NEPP On-Street Paid Parking

On-street pay and display parking means parking in marked bays along the roadside, where you register your stay either digitally or by purchasing a physical ticket. These bays will have clear signs showing the rules. You can register your stay in two ways:

• Using the MiPermit service (via app, website, phone or text)
• Getting a paper ticket from a nearby parking machine.

The first hour will be free, but motorists would still need to register their stay using MiPermit or display a ticket. If any motorists wants to stay for longer, they can extend their stay by paying for extra time.

On-street paid parking offers convenience, especially in areas where off-street parking (car park) options are limited. It allows drivers to park closer to their destinations, reducing the need for long walks, and is common practice in urban areas. Existing on-street sites in north Essex can be found in Epping, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Harlow, Harwich, Marks Tey, Colchester Town and Saffron Walden.

The pay and display operational hours will directly mirror the operational hours of the limited waiting bays currently in place. For most sites, this is 8am-6pm Monday-Saturday, with the exception of one bay on Halstead High Street, which is 8am-6pm Monday-Thursday and Saturday.

Currently, limited-wait parking bays are inefficient to monitor and require multiple visits by enforcement officers to assume a contravention has occurred. This takes up vital Civil Enforcement Officer time which could be better-spent managing safety-related issues like school zones and yellow lines. The proposed changes could reduce the amount of time spent patrolling the restrictions by 50%.

Switching to pay and display (with a free first-hour) means:

• Fewer patrols needed,
• More efficient use of staff,
• Better enforcement of safety areas,
• Ability for motorists to stay for longer,
• Encourage turnover of spaces and footfall.

The operational hours of the proposed pay and display bays will mirror those of the current limited waiting restrictions, i.e. 8am-6pm Monday-Saturday, and 8am-6pm Monday-Thursday & Saturday. Details for each site can be found on the Notice of Intention and maps in the consultation pack linked above.

No – the first hour remains free, though motorists must cover their vehicle with a ticket or digital stay. In addition, we’re proposing that motorists will be able to stay for longer if needed. For example, motorists will now be able to stay for two hours: the first hour is free, and the second hour is paid. The costs will be aligned with nearby public car parks.

We would recommend using MiPermit, which is already used in local car parks across the District, as well as for resident permits. Motorists can:

• Use the MiPermit app,
• Visit the MiPermit website,
• Activate a stay via text,
• Call the MiPermit number shown on nearby signage.

For those who are unable or prefer not to use digital options, a ticket can be obtained from a nearby card payment machine, which NEPP would install.

We appreciate that not all motorists will necessarily be able to or want to use the MiPermit system. To ensure that motorists will not have to travel far to obtain a ticket, we are proposing to install the following number of card machines:

• High Street, Halstead – 2 machines
• Newland Street, Witham – 2 machines
• Bocking End, Braintree – No machines (digital only)
• The Centre, Halstead – No machines (digital only)

If you have any thoughts on where these machines should be located within the areas detailed on the proposed maps, please let us know during the consultation period.

If you have a Blue Badge, you can continue to park for free. Just make sure your badge is clearly displayed with the expiry date and arrival time visible.

We understand there may be some concerns about parking and its impact on footfall. However, research shows that, so long as sensible tariffs are put in place, ease of parking, time spent travelling and business offerings are of more concern to motorists than cost. The proposed changes will:

• Let customers stay longer without needing to move their vehicles
• Encourage people to spend more time in town, visiting more shops and services

NEPP has previously altered limited waiting to pay and display restrictions in areas such as Colchester, Epping and Loughton, and these areas have continued to be well-used even without a free hour in place.

The main purpose for this proposal is to achieve efficiency savings, as previously outlined. There will be costs associated with these schemes, such as installation of machines and signage, and income figures are unknown. Nonetheless, it is likely that there would ultimately be some income generation, and we can advise how this would be spent.

NEPP is a partnership of local councils (Braintree District, Colchester City, Epping Forest District, Essex County, Harlow District, Tendring District and Uttlesford District), and NEPP is required to be self-funding. Furthermore, Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 required all income generated to be ring-fenced for parking operations. As such, any revenue from paid parking sites would help to cover the cost of the service and to support traffic management across NEPP’s jurisdiction, including to:

• Maintain and improve road markings,
• Install and maintain parking signage and machines,
• Replace damaged equipment such as posts and street furniture.

The full proposals will be advertised from Thursday 23rd October until Friday 14th November 2025. This public consultation is part of a regulated statutory process, which required a minimum consultation period of three weeks. The proposals include:

• A copy of the proposed Order, with plans showing the specified lengths of road,
• A Statement of Reasons for proposing to make the Order,
• A copy of the Order-to-be-amended (the current Order in place)

These documents can be viewed on the Traffweb system or via NEPP’s website at the links below, by selecting BDC49;

• NEPP Traffweb

• NEPP Proposed Orders

If you would like to submit comments or an objection about the proposed changes, you can do so by Friday 14th November 2025 in the below ways:

• Online – At the NEPP Traffweb link above.

• Via Email – techteam@colchester.gov.uk

• By Post – TRO Comments, North Essex Parking Partnership, PO Box 5575, Colchester, CO1 9LT

Often referred to as ‘pay and display’, on-street paid parking means parking in marked bays along the roadside, where you register your stay either digitally or by purchasing a physical ticket.

How much it costs to park in an on-street space will vary depending on how long you park, in the same way that car park tariffs work. Clear signage would be displayed at the parking site to explain the options available to you and how to pay.

On-street paid parking offers convenience, especially in areas where off-street parking (car park) options are limited. It allows drivers to park closer to their destinations, reducing the need for long walks, and is common practice in urban areas. Existing on-street sites in north Essex can be found in Epping, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Harlow, Harwich, Marks Tey, Colchester Town and Saffron Walden.

Paid parking has proven to be an effective tool for managing traffic flow and ensuring parking availability in busy areas. By deterring long-term parking and encouraging turnover, paid parking schemes can help keep roads clear and traffic flowing smoothly, whilst encouraging the use of off-street car parks.

Enforcement of paid parking is simpler and more efficient than restrictions like Limited Waiting. This helps us to better manage our Civil Enforcement time as they can do a quick check to see if a driver is exceeding time limits or not paying for parking. The time saved here can be spent patrolling priority restrictions where safety is key, such as around schools.

Following the initial approval of the principle in early 2024, paid parking has now been introduced in selected areas of Colchester and Epping Forest. NEPP is now actively developing proposals for further sites, including locations within Braintree District, in line with local parking needs and strategic transport objectives.

Plans are being developed alongside Officers and Members of each relevant District to ensure that any pre-advertising engagement with wider Stakeholders is conducted.

Where the process reaches the scheme consultation advertising stage, residents and other stakeholders may provide feedback and raise any concerns. All comments received will be carefully considered before the amendment, withdrawal, or finalisation and implementation of any scheme.

The Parking Partnership understands the importance of keeping the public informed throughout this process. We encourage everyone to review the detailed reports, which will be available at the appropriate stage, outlining the proposed regulations and permissions, and to participate in the public consultation period. Feedback is invaluable in helping us make informed decisions that benefit the entire community.

Since the beginning of this project, sites across Colchester City and Epping Forest District have already been implemented. The sites being proposed in the current phase – as of October 2025 – are those within the Braintree District as below.

High Street and The Centre, Halstead
The Causeway, Bocking End
Newland Street, Witham

NEPP has been actively engaging with affected District/City partners, Members and stakeholders since early 2024 to support the introduction of on-street paid parking. This engagement, including informal discussions, site-specific consultations and collaborative design work, helps to ensure that proposed schemes reflect local needs and priorities and to develop communications plans prior to finalisation.

In some cases, more localised informal consultation may be necessary and would include affected residents, businesses, and any other identified key stakeholders. We will also be carrying out ‘enhanced’ statutory consultations, which would include letter drops to affected residents or businesses, alongside the standard street and local newspaper notices.

We continue to work closely with district, borough, and county partners, as well as local councillors and community representatives, to shape each scheme. Feedback gathered during these stages helps inform the design and development of proposals before they progress to formal consultation under the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process.

The process that authorities must follow is set out in The Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996. The process used when making permanent Traffic Regulation Orders, such as waiting restrictions or resident permit schemes, is also used to introduce paid parking.

Once proposals have been drafted and agreed a Notice of Intention will be advertised. This will give 21 days for any objections or other comments to be made. Any correspondence that is received will be considered before a decision is made on whether to introduce the proposal as advertised, make amendments, or stop the proposal.

It’s important to note that the primary aim of civil parking enforcement is not to generate income, but to manage parking and improve traffic flow.

While revenue from paid parking may help cover the increasing costs of patrol and enforcement, any surplus is reinvested back into essential traffic management initiatives; Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ensures that that income generated is ‘ringfenced’ to the parking operations, including enforcement and maintenance of the parking provisions.

This is a highly debated subject, and it is often assumed that there is a direct correlation between free parking and increased footfall. There are several studies that have been conducted that provide some clarity on this issue.

A useful report was produced for the Welsh Government on the impact of parking charges on own centre footfall – this can be found here – https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/statistics-and-research/2018-12/150610-assessing-impact-car-parking-charges-town-centre-footfall-en.pdf

There are many articles available online covering the broad spectrum of views on the impact of introducing paid parking, both on and off-street.

There will inevitably be localised impacts however it is our intention to work with local Members and other stakeholders on proposing schemes that balance the needs of local communities with the need to ensure efficient use of the kerbside in prime locations.