From October 1, drivers in Westminster will experience a change in how parking payment is handled across the borough. A new digital system will introduce multiple options for motorists using mobile apps to pay for on-street parking. The update, first reported by Birmingham Mail, represents a notable shift in service delivery by Westminster City Council, making it the first local authority in London to take this approach.
While the operational details have been confirmed by officials, the broader effects on driver behavior, service efficiency, and local revenue streams will become clearer as the rollout progresses.
From October 1: A New Era for Parking in Westminster
The new parking payment system officially went live on 1 October, marking the end of Westminster’s single-app model. Previously, motorists could only use RingGo to pay for on-street parking. Now, with JustPark and PayByPhone also available, users have more flexibility in how they manage their parking—whether they’re making a quick stop or staying longer in central London.
Councillor Max Sullivan, Cabinet Member for Streets, emphasized that this change is more than just a tech upgrade:
We’re proud to launch this new parking scheme which offers more choice for drivers and a better deal for residents.
By introducing competition between providers, we’re keeping costs down and ensuring that more of the money raised from parking goes straight back into improving transport.
That means cleaner, safer streets, better public transport, and more investment in making Westminster a healthier, greener place to live.
The borough also confirmed that operator fees will be lower under the new structure. This means that a larger portion of the money collected from parking charges will be reinvested directly into local infrastructure.
That could include new pedestrian walkways, upgraded cycle routes, and better transit connections—projects that align with Westminster’s environmental and mobility goals.
App Providers Highlight Innovation and Service Improvements
The introduction of a multi-operator model is being welcomed by the three participating platforms, each of which brings distinct features to Westminster’s streets.
Jonathan Hampson, Chief Commercial Officer at JustPark, stressed the advantages of integrating on-the-spot payments with booking capabilities:
We’re proud to be working with Westminster to give drivers more choice when it comes to parking.
By coupling our Park & Pay solution with our Reservations offering, JustPark will ensure drivers in Westminster get the flexibility they need — whether it’s for a quick stop or a longer stay.
Rebecca Maisey, UK Commercial Director for PayByPhone, emphasized the importance of simplifying the user experience:
We are thrilled to launch PayByPhone in the City of Westminster.
In line with PayByPhone’s ethos, we’re helping to simplify the parking experience for residents of and visitors to Westminster with our robust features and numerous benefits available in our app.
RingGo, which remains a widely used option across the UK, also continues to operate in the borough. With over 22 million motorists registered nationwide, it remains a dominant player in the parking payment landscape.
Christopher Head, Regional Director for the UK & Ireland at Arrive, RingGo’s parent company, welcomed the competition and emphasized Westminster’s role in broader changes coming to urban mobility:
With multiple London boroughs due to adopt the National Parking Platform in the coming months, it is great to see the City of Westminster offering users a broader range of options for mobile parking payments.
Using a mobile phone to pay for parking is second nature to more than 22 million motorists already registered with RingGo, and we look forward to continuing to offer our service in the borough.
We are committed to supporting efforts that make central London more liveable and improve the parking experience for the millions of drivers on the borough’s roads.
