Grantham station area to lose 590 parking spaces as NCP sites close

Hundreds of parking spaces used by rail passengers in Grantham are set to disappear this week, in a change likely to be felt by commuters and visitors across south Lincolnshire. Three National Car Parks sites on Station Road are due to close by 23:59 GMT on Friday, removing a total of 590 spaces close to Grantham railway station. The closures follow NCP's collapse into administration, with administrators PwC saying a number of sites around the country had been judged commercially unviable.

For many in Lincolnshire, Grantham is more than just a town centre stop. Its station is a key rail link for journeys towards London, Newark, Peterborough and the wider East Midlands, so the loss of such a large block of nearby parking is likely to have practical consequences for regular travellers who have relied on those car parks for early trains, long working days and overnight returns. PwC said 21 sites nationally would close and would not form part of any sale of the business.

It also pointed to a wider change in travel habits since the Covid pandemic, saying demand for parking had not returned to previous levels because of shifts in commuting and customer driving patterns. The affected Grantham car parks were open 24 hours a day and were commonly used by commuters, with payment available through the NCP app. Their location beside the station made them a familiar option for people needing straightforward access to the rail network.

South Kesteven District Council has said drivers affected by the closures should still be able to find alternatives in council-run car parks elsewhere in the town. According to the council, long-stay provision includes 328 spaces at Welham Street, 260 at Wharf Road and 47 at Conduit Lane. The authority said some of its own sites do not usually reach full capacity.

There are also other parking spaces managed by LNER along Station Road, offering another option for some rail users, although the sudden loss of nearly 600 spaces in one area will still represent a significant adjustment. The story will resonate beyond Grantham itself. Many Lincolnshire residents travel into the town to catch trains for work, education and appointments, and station parking can be an important part of that journey, particularly for those coming from villages and rural areas with limited public transport connections.

PwC said it was working to stabilise the business and explore a sale of all or parts of the company, but added that it was duty bound to act in the best interests of creditors. For now, though, the immediate reality in Grantham is simpler: from the end of this week, one of the town's main sources of station parking will be gone, and drivers will need to make other plans.

This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.