Staff parking

University staff are eligible to apply for permits for car parks A, B, D, E or F (Charles Street, Aquatics, Booth Street West, Cecil Street and Dilworth Street).

Staff permits are offered as a pay as you go (PAYG) permit, which charges an hourly rate dependent upon your grade.

Charges From 1st September 2023 are as follows:

University Staff Permit Holder Pricing:

Grade

Rate

 Hourly Charge

Grades 1 and 2

A

£0.11

Grades 3 and 4

B

£0.16

Grade 5

C

£0.22

Grade 6

D

£0.27

Grade 7

E

£0.33

Grade 8

F

£0.38

Grade 9

G

£0.48

The Car Parks Office will use the ID number provided on your application form to obtain Grade information from HR. No salary information is required.

How to apply

Email the completed application form to carparking@manchester.ac.uk.

University staff parking: FAQs

Q: How do Pay As You Go (PAYG) permits work?

A: PAYG permit holders will have to add credit to their University ID card or Permit Card, and a deduction will be taken from this credit each time the car park is used.

Monthly permits are no longer an option for staff members.

Q: What are the costs?

The rates are banded by Grade, with an hourly rate as per the table below:

Rate

Grade

Hourly rate (from 1 Sep 2023)

A

1 and 2

£0.11

B

3 and 4

£0.16

C

5

£0.22

D

6

£0.27

E

7

£0.33

F

8

£0.38

G

9

£0.48

Q: What about other permit holders?

A: Permits are available for a number of other car park users, including contractors, tenants, honorary staff, undergraduate students (with a DASS Referral), and other/external associates based in University buildings. We are unable to offer permits to casual staff members.

These permits will continue to be charged upfront on a monthly rate which is payable by card payment at the Car Parks Office. The rates will be charged as follows:

  • Postgraduate Research (PGR) Students: PGR Students will be able to choose a PAYG permit if this is more suitable, which will be matched to Rate B (£0.16 per hour).
  • Dental Hospital Permits: Dental Hospital staff will need to provide evidence of Grade and staff will be matched to the relevant rate.

Obtaining a Permit:

Q: How do I apply for a permit (if I am a new applicant)?

A: You will need to complete a Permit Application Form to apply for a PAYG permit. The form can be downloaded from the Estates website.

Q: How do you know what my Grade is?

A: The Car Parks Office will use the ID number provided on your application form to obtain Grade information from HR, ahead of your permit being activated.

Q: Where will I be able to park?

A: All standard PAYG permit holders will continue to park at the car park they opted for on their application form. Any change of car park still needs to be requested via the waiting list.

Parking at Dover Street Car Park, Front Quad, Rear Quad, North Campus Loop Road and North Campus Arches will remain by special permission only.

Q: Can I switch between car parks?

A: Yes, however, you must apply to switch via permit office.

Q: Are car share permits still available?

A: Car share permits are still available if staff members need to arrive/leave separately and therefore cannot use the PAYG function on their own ID card to enter AND exit the car park. Car share permit holders can choose to set up PAYG individually on their own ID cards but we do still encourage car sharing to reduce the number of vehicles on campus.

Payments and Costs:

Q: Where can I add credit to my card?

A: You will be able to top up at the Car Parks Office, or at the pay machines at Booth Street West, Charles Street, Dover Street and the Aquatics (Level 7+ only) car parks.

Q: How do I add credit to my card?

A: Credit is added via card payment only. Instructions for topping up will be made available and displayed at the pay machines.

Q: How will I know how much credit I have remaining?

A: Your remaining credit will be displayed on the screens at the entry/exit of the car parks as you scan your card.

Q: What happens if I run out of credit?

A: You will not be able to exit the car park if you do not have enough credit on your card, therefore users are advised to top up credit when funds are down to approximately 5 days parking.

Q: How long is credit valid for?

A: For most permit holders, credit will be valid for one year. For anyone on fixed term contracts or associates on short term contracts/leases, there will be an expiry date added to the permit in line with the end date.

Q: Will I be able to get a refund if I leave or give up my permit?

A: Yes, provided it is within the one year period of topping up. In order to receive a refund you will need to visit the Car Parks Office.

Q: Will I be able to top up online or over the phone?

A: We are not permitted to take payments over the phone, and don’t offer an online payment option. Direct debits and standing orders are also not possible.

Q: Will there still be a discount for LEV and ULEV?

A: The ULEV Scheme which was introduced in February 2020 will remain active and will offer a 50% discount on parking for eligible permit holders (any vehicles emitting less than 50g CO2/km). The discounted rate will be applied for 12 months from the date a V5 Certificate is provided. The permit holder MUST contact the Car Parks Office each year with the original V5 Certificate, otherwise the discounted rate will be removed.

The original LEV Scheme which was introduced in 2014, which offered a 50% or 75% discount on vehicles with CO2 emissions up to 110g CO2/km will cease, as these vehicles are no longer deemed low emission in the Government tax and emission bands.

The scheme will be reviewed annually and will fall in line with Government guidance with vehicles no longer meeting the criteria being removed from the scheme.

Using the Permits:

Q: I enter/exit the car parks multiple times per day. Will I be charged every time?

A: Charges will be made on an hourly rate, while you are within the car park. You will be charged for the time you park from the point of entry and exit up to the hourly rate. There is a grace period set within the system of 10 minutes.

Q. Are the payments capped?

A: Yes you wont be charged for more than 7 hours per day (up to a maximum of 35 hours per week).

Q: I currently have access to a number of areas on campus due to my role. Will this still be possible?

A: If access to multiple car parks or areas of campus is a business requirement, then an email with Line Manager approval may need to be provided.

Q: What happens if I forget my ID or permit card?

A: If you forget your ID/permit card, access can still be gained in two ways: you can use the intercoms, and you will be required to provide your name and staff ID number. Alternatively, you can take a ticket to gain entry, and then contact the Car Parks Office, who will arrange for you to exit the car park. In both instances, your name and the date will be recorded. In any 12-month period, you will only be permitted access without payment on 2 occasions. Any further requests will be refused.

Please note: If your permit does not work, or you forget your permit, the car parks office will not be liable to any charges you incur. If you do not contact the Car Parks Office at the time you have an issue, then you will not be issued a refund, as alternative access arrangements could be made

Q: I forgot my ID/permit card and paid to park. Can I have a refund?

A: No. The Car Parks Office is contactable between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday, and our Attendants are contactable via the intercoms between 6am and midnight, with Security manning intercoms between midnight and 6am. If you forget your ID or permit card, you should contact the team to arrange alternative entry/exit to the car park, before making any payments. If you do not contact the Car Parks Office or Attendants at the time you have an issues, you will not be issued a refund, as alternative access arrangements can be made.

Q: I lost my ID card. Will my parking access still work?

A: If your ID card has been replaced by HR Services, you will need to visit the Car Parks Office to have your parking access activated on your new card. This does not happen automatically and cannot be done remotely.

Q: Is a parking space guaranteed?

A: No. We will always try to provide parking for permit holders, however, a space cannot be guaranteed. Public parking is monitored to maximise space for permit holders.

Other:

Q: Is Visitor, Contractor and Delivery Parking available?

A: Yes. The process for booking visitor parking remains the same and requires the completion of a form.

The rate for visitor/Contractor parking will continue to be charged at £8.50 per day.