After an extensive period of planning and engagement, informed by the recent feedback from nearly 1,000 survey respondents earlier this year, a new car parking management system has been approved by the University.
This will introduce new parking permit eligibility criteria and changes to the existing charging structure at our sites based within Oxford.
To ensure the new system is fit for purpose and spaces are available to those with genuine need, the number of staff eligible for permits needs to reduce significantly at our sites based within Oxford.
As previously communicated, this is:
This is not a situation which is unique to Oxford Brookes and the vast majority of commuters into Oxford are needing to shift to alternative, more sustainable transport options.
There will of course be particular needs which require a permit - such as Blue Badge holders, or where roles require colleagues to be able to park on campus - but these will be the exception rather than the norm.
The University will also introduce changes to car park pricing. Since the existing parking system was introduced during the 2016/17 academic year, our parking prices have remained static. This is despite rising operational costs and the need for prices to be considered in the context of alternative travel costs when travelling to our campuses.
The changes will come into effect from 1 September 2024, at which point all current staff parking permits will no longer be valid across all Oxford Brookes sites. All current staff permits will be voided as of 31 August 2024.
We have broken down the specific changes per site for clarity, which includes the changes in eligibility criteria, permit and daily car parking charging. You will also find a set of frequently asked questions on these webpages.
Any staff members who think they are eligible for a permit from September are invited to complete the pre-application request form. A link to the application form has been included in the individual site breakdowns. Staff are only entitled to apply for one permit for your main place of work.
Due to the number of changes to car parking eligibility and pricing, we advise colleagues to read this detailed information carefully before submitting a permit application.
Details of the new software systems, how to make permit payments and daily charging payments will be communicated in due course.
Find out more about the new eligibility criteria, permit and daily parking charges and the pre-permit application form.
Staff can complete the pre-permit application form from 18 June to 5 July 2024.
Please take the time to read through these frequently asked questions before completing an application. If you have read through all the information on these webpages and you still have a query, please email transport@brookes.ac.uk. These FAQs will be updated further based on any additional unanswered questions raised by colleagues.
Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council have introduced new traffic schemes with the aim of reducing car use, to reduce congestion for sustainable forms of transport, improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, and address climate and air-quality issues.
Oxford city centre is heading towards an increasingly car-free environment with a range of initiatives already in place including Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and Zero Emission Zones.
In future, local authorities also plan to introduce Traffic Filters and a Workplace Levy which will seek to further reduce driving and parking within Oxford and surrounding areas.
The new car park management system will come into effect from 1 September 2024. All current permits will expire on 31 August 2024, with the exception of Wheatley permits which will expire on 31 October 2024.
As part of the University’s new system, the number of staff eligible for permits will reduce significantly at our Oxford city based sites, to meet council-mandated car park capacity and to reflect the realities of our local net zero and transport policies. There will of course be particular needs which require a permit - such as Blue Badge holders, or where roles require colleagues to be able to park on campus - but these will be the exception rather than the norm.
In parallel, we are tendering for an operator for the new car parking management system, which will include the introduction of a new app based payment system, with a move away from the existing parking machines.
The new car park management strategy is aimed at ensuring that access to our car parks is as equitable as possible for staff, by introducing a permit eligibility scoring system at the city of Oxford based sites, i.e Headington Hill, Headington Sports Centre, Clive Booth Student Village, Marston Road and Warneford Hall.
At present we have too many permits for actual parking bays, which needs resolving to ensure those that have a genuine need can park. The current system especially penalises those with caring responsibilities as they often need to turn up for work slightly later in the day.
Eligibility and permit numbers will remain the same for Harcourt Hill, Swindon, Crescent and Paul Kent Halls of residence for the 2024/25 academic year.
The Harcourt Hill Campus Park & Ride Scheme will be open to all staff who meet the criteria. Staff wishing to apply for this scheme can do so during the pre-application process as the form provides this option for staff.
The Wheatley Campus Park & Ride scheme will cease to operate from 1 September 2024 as the University removes all remaining activity from the site. The BROOKESbus service will terminate at Thornhill Park & Ride from 1 July 2024, but a new commercial service will continue to operate between Wheatley and Oxford. For more information on the new services, please visit the Oxford Bus Company website.
Staff who have Wheatley intersite passes and still require access to the site post 1 July 2024 can use their passes until 1 September 2024 at no charge. Please be aware that from 1 July 2024 this service will no longer stop at our Wheatley Campus, but on the Ambrose Hill / London Road bus stop (0.7 mile or approximately a 15 minute walk from the campus). Scheme members can continue to utilise the Harcourt Hill Campus. Those who would like to leave the Campus Park and Ride scheme should contact Transport Services via transport@brookes.ac.uk to arrange the return of their intersite bus card.
Any staff who apply for a permit at one of the University’s other sites but are unsuccessful will still be able to apply for the Harcourt Hill Campus Park & Ride Scheme at a later stage. Participants in this scheme will need to pay for their parking at Harcourt Hill, based on the site’s charging rate, but will receive an intersite travel pass for free travel on the BROOKESbus.
Peak hours are in operation between 7.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays in England and Wales).
Weekdays off-peak hours are 5.01pm to 6.59am. Permit holders will see no change to out-of-hours parking during weekdays, which will remain free during off-peak periods across all University sites.
Weekends: Off-peak charging at weekends will come into force on our Headington-based sites, i.e Headington Hill, Clive Booth Student Village, Marston Road and Warneford at non-permit holder tariffs (refer to the next section).
Off-peak tariffs will come into force for non-permit holders from 1 September 2024. This will be applicable at Headington, Clive Booth Student Village, Warneford Hall and Marston Road only. Signage will be in place to ensure staff and members of the public are aware of these changes.
| Off-peak tariffs (5.01pm - 6:59am weekdays, and weekends) | Harcourt, Swindon, Crescent & Paul Kent Halls | Headington Hill, Sports Centre users, Clive Booth Student Village, Marston Road and Warneford |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 hours | £0.00 | £2.00 |
| 2-3 hours | £3.00 | £4.00 |
| 3-4 hours | £6.00 | £7.00 |
| 4-5 hours | £9.00 | £10.00 |
| 5+ hours (max 24 hours) | £12.00 | £13.00 |
Any staff member with a valid driving licence and an Oxford Brookes email address can apply for a permit, even if you do not currently have a permit (This includes P and D number staff accounts). You will need to complete the pre-permit application form, after which your eligibility for a permit will be assessed.
The new car park management strategy is aimed at ensuring that access to our car parks is as equitable as possible for staff, by introducing a new permit eligibility scoring system at our city centre based sites, i.e Headington Hill, Headington Sports Centre, Clive Booth Student Village, Marston Road and Warneford Hall.
Eligibility and permit numbers will remain the same for Harcourt Hill, Swindon, Crescent and Paul Kent halls of residence.
Full details on eligibility criteria can be found under each site’s details:
Pre-permit applications will be processed. You will be required to supply your commuting and additional eligibility-related details so that we may be able to give you an indication of whether you are likely to be eligible for a permit from 1 September.
During this phase, applicants will need to provide additional information to allow us to verify your eligibility criteria. The new car parking operator and system will also be delivered
Staff can apply for an 'out-of-semester' only parking permit option at Headington, Headington Hill, Headington Sport Centre, Clive Booth Student Village, Marston Road or Warneford Hall.
See out-of-semester parking on the Headington, Marston and Warneford parking page to learn more.
The current £10 per annum permit administration charge will increase to £24 per annum from 1 September 2024 for all permit holders (including Blue Badge holders).
The only exemptions will be Temporary Medical Permits; these will require validation through your line manager following a referral to Occupational Health as appropriate. This applies irrespective of campus location, frequency of travel or permit type.
All current permit holders will be voided from 1 September 2024. There will be no refunds given to current permit holders.
Daily parking charges are set to increase at Headington Hill, Headington Sports Centre, Clive Booth Student Village, Marston Road and Warneford Hall, having been static since 2016. The intention is that charges are better aligned with public transport costs, including Park & Ride, and other parking opportunities in Oxford. The increase will also help address rising operational costs to ensure our car parks do not operate at a financial loss.
Daily charging at Crescent Hall, Paul Kent Hall, Harcourt Hill and Swindon will remain the same for this academic year. A specific breakdown on each site's daily charging structure is given under each site page. Charges for staff will be directly related to your spine point at the time you apply for a permit.
All staff are required to pay for parking, with the only exemptions being those with Blue Badge Permits, University Departmental Vehicle Loan Permit, authorised contractors and for University-owned vehicles.
If your role requires you to travel to campus more than three days a week, the total you pay will be capped at the equivalent of three days’ worth of charges. This is to minimise the impact of the increase in charges amongst those whose role means they have to travel to campus most often.
Charges will apply as before for half days (0-4 hours) and full days on site (4+ hours). Please ensure you have reviewed the new charges and how they would apply to you before making your application for a permit.
Yes, a step-by-step PDF guide on online payment system can be found on the staff parking page. Alternatively staff can use the car parking machines during this period.
Please note, when we move to a new operating system, refunds will not be given on the pre-paid parking credits so please ensure you only pay for pre-paid parking credits that you will utilise before 31 August 2024.
After checking eligibility criteria, permit and daily charges costs, as well as alternative travel costs, you can apply for a permit by using the pre-permit application form. You will need to complete in full before your eligibility for a permit can be assessed.
Please ensure that you have the supporting information to validate your application as you will need to upload this as part of your application.
The deadline for pre-permit applications is 12.00 midnight on 5 July 2024.
The process for applying for permits after this period will be finalised and communicated at a later date; the website will be updated accordingly.
The permits will be valid for 12 months. You will need to apply for a new permit on an annual basis at the beginning of the autumn semester.
Reminders will be sent to current permit holders via email and through standard communication channels
The current 2023-24 permits will expire on 31 August. Those colleagues who are based at Wheatley and wish to continue to park at Wheatley until 31 October 2024 can use their old permit until this date.
If your permit expires before 31 August 2024, you will need to renew your permit but this will not incur a cost. You will be entitled to park with the standard Terms and Conditions of your current permit until 31 August 2024. Current daily charges continue to apply.
The University operates a virtual parking permit system. Staff will need to sign into their virtual parking account to make a permit application for the interim period.
All staff requiring a permit from September 2024 need to apply for a new permit, apart from those based at Wheatley in the interim period (i.e. 1 September to 31 October 2024) who will not require a permit to park at that site.
There will be no refunds on the £10 permit fee paid for an existing annual pass.
All applicants will be contacted directly and informed as to whether they are eligible for a permit. We expect this confirmation to take place by 31 July 2024. No validation requirements are required until phase 2 in September.
If you are unsuccessful in applying for a Headington-based permit, you will be asked whether you would like to apply for either:
If you take up either option, the £24 annual permit administration charge will still apply.
Unsuccessful applicants who wish to appeal under exceptional circumstances will be considered and adjudicated by the University’s parking panel, during July/August 2024. Applicants will be informed of this process after the pre-permit applications have been assessed and communicated to applicants.
The vast majority of us will need to shift to alternative, more sustainable transport options when travelling into Oxford. Please refer to and take advantage of staff travel offers.
Any unauthorised vehicle will be issued with a Parking Charge Notice (PCN).
There are a number of differing permit types available such as contractors, Brookes leased and owned vehicles, visitors, etc. Updates on these permit types and forthcoming changes will be communicated shortly.
Parking changes will come into effect from 1 September 2024, at which point all current student parking permits will no longer be valid across all Oxford Brookes sites.
If a student permit expires before 31 August 2024, the student will need to renew the permit but this will not incur a cost.
Members of Brookes Sport who have been issued a membership number and are paying a full Community Membership fee on a monthly or annual basis are eligible to apply for a Sport & Leisure parking permit. The Sport & Leisure parking permit charge will remain the same.
Sports Centre-paid Community Memberships can apply for a Sports Car Park Permit for Harcourt Hill, permitting peak-time free parking for up to two hours and free off-peak parking. Parking is not allowed at Headington during peak hours. The above off-peak charges will apply from 1 September 2024.
Oxford Brookes University staff and students are not eligible to apply for a Sport & Leisure permit.
Members of the public without a car park permit, attending a class at the Sports Centre, are not permitted to park during peak hours.
Off-peak parking charges apply - see above.
To reduce driving between campuses, Transport Services can issue faculties/directorates with intersite bus passes that allow free travel on the BROOKESbus.
Intersite passes are for business/operational travel use only and should not be used for personal commuting.
Currently, to facilitate University operational needs, departments can purchase a departmental Vehicle Loan Permit; these permits will be valid until 31 August 2024.
This system will change from 1 September 2024. Details of these permit types and applications will be updated when the new system comes online.
Currently, outside of the standard parking conditions, to facilitate operational requirements faculties/directorates can submit an Exemption Request Application. This system will change from 1 September 2024. Updates on these exemptions and applications and forthcoming changes will be communicated shortly.