Sheffield parking: NCP pulls out of illegal car park in crackdown by city council
The UK’s biggest parking firm has pulled out of an illegal car park in Sheffield after a crackdown by the city council.
NCP has removed all signs and apparently left the site on the corner of Fitzwilliam and Milton streets in the city centre.
The city council launched enforcement action in September after refusing two planning applications for the site.
NCP, the biggest private parking operator in the country, declined to comment.
The firm runs 12 car parks in Sheffield including on Wellington Street, Campo Lane and Blonk Street, near Victoria Quays.
Sheffield City Council has launched a crackdown on rogue parking firms flouting the law.
The authority is also looking into an NCP car park on nearby Bowdon Street where it is ‘investigating an allegation NCP is operating without planning permission’.
It is also taking action against Bank Park over three illegal car parks in the city.
Coun Ben Miskell, chair of the transport, regeneration and climate policy committee, said he was determined to rid Sheffield of illegal car parks that “cheated” motorists.
“It is not acceptable that car parking companies use land within Sheffield to set up their illegal car parking, cheating motorists into thinking they are leaving their vehicles in places where all the proper checks have been adhered to.
“As a council, we are not against there being car parks in the city but they must go through the proper channels, including obtaining planning permission, before they are opened to the public.
“I am determined to rid Sheffield of these illegal car parks and I’m delighted to see that the one on Fitzwilliam Street has taken note of its enforcement notice and closed down.”
In September, Coun Miskell many car park operators were taking advantage of rules designed to ensure fairness.
He said then: “Some unfortunately abuse the system by submitting repeat applications and lodging appeals, despite knowing full well what the rules require.
“Ordinary Sheffield residents building a simple extension wouldn’t dream of playing the system in such a way.”
The city council refused planning permission for the Fitzwilliam Street car park stating it would conflict with sustainable transport policies, undermine air quality strategies, discincentivise development on the plot and harm the appearance of the street.
Meanwhile, Bank Park has appealed against an order to close a Sheffield car park it has been operating without permission for more than two years.
The site on Ecclesall Road opened in March 2023.
The firm applied for retrospective planning permission in November 2024, but it was refused over air quality, appearance and potentially deterring redevelopment of the site.
When Bank Park failed to close it, the city council served an enforcement notice which started on August 27.
In September, the firm appealed to the Planning Inspectorate.