Expert.
Independent.
Cost-effective.
We are The Parking Consultancy.
Client
Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)
Context
Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) has its main campus in the city of Manchester, with additional facilities in the neighbouring county of Cheshire. The University has over 30,000 post and undergraduate students and around 5,500 staff.
The Birley Fields campus development is part of a £350m investment in new campus facilities for MMU, consolidating their 7 campus locations to just 2 (Manchester and Cheshire).
The first phase of works in Manchester saw 4 satellite campuses (Didsbury, Aytoun, Hollings and Elizabeth Gaskell) relocated to the new Birley Fields and All Saints central campus, with the completion of a 320 space ‘staff only’ multi-storey car park.
Client Issues
- The loss of over 400 staff car parking spaces at the amalgamated central Manchester campus;
- Relocation of staff and students and the need to understand travel behaviour;
- The need to make the best use of onsite car parking capacity and investigate potential off-site solutions;
- The need to procure temporary parking solutions;
- Compliance with access / car parking planning conditions;
- Clashes with local residents from overspill parking and a S106 commitment to fund a Controlled Parking Zone;
- Change management and a need to for consultation;
- The need to minimise the impact on staff/student retention and recruitment; and
- Keeping the University operational with minimum disturbance to services.
Our Solution
With so many parking spaces lost, and so many staff and students relocating to the new central campus, it was essential that any solution contain a mixture of demand management measures (such as introducing charging for parking and limiting the number of permits available) as well as making improvements to alternative modes of transport.
However, first it was critical to understand the needs and concerns of all stakeholders. A range of consultation exercises were undertaken in order to understand travel behaviour and ‘bring staff and students along’ in the process.
A variety of sustainable transport projects and initiatives were launched to complement the existing Sustainable Transport Strategy, due to very limited student parking at the Manchester campuses and reducing staff capacity.
Before commencing work on site, the University also made a significant financial contribution to Manchester City Council to support a S106 residents’ parking scheme to help avoid additional pressures on parking in the area when Birley Fields opened.
Services Provided
- Wrote and implemented a new Car Parking and Sustainable Travel Strategy.
- Introduced parking charges and enforcement;
- Introduced a ‘needs-based’ electronic car parking permit allocation system;
- Implemented a package of travel plan measures:
- Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure;
- An I-Cycle hire and recycling scheme;
- Developed a range of new cycle storage and changing facilities;
- Introduced Car Sharing schemes, with priority spacing and incentives;
- Retendered and upgraded the rail link shuttle bus fleet to electric / diesel hybrid, significantly reducing CO2;
- Discounted public transport ticketing and season ticket loan schemes;
- Critically reviewed plans for the £52 million Cross-City Bus Package;
- Personalised journey planning and sustainable travel events;
- Travel Plan marketing and branding;
- Conducted consultations with staff, Unions, students and visitors;
- Project managed the implementation of a new access control, parking barrier and payment system;
- Procured temporary off-site car parks and liaised with Legal and Procurement Teams;
- Tendering and contract negotiation;
- Identified and enabled infrastructure improvements both on and off site, working with commission architects and contractors;
- Liaised directly with the Local Authority, Transport for Greater Manchester and other stakeholders;
- Represented the University at the high-level Cross City Bus Package Steering Group;
- Delivered briefing sessions and technical reports to inform the Local Authority and the University’s Executive Team; and
- Critically reviewed the infrastructure and Multi Storey Car Park designs.
The Results
- Campus relocation and consolidation were completed on schedule;
- Procured leases on 3 off-site temporary car parks;
- Critically reviewed plans for cycling, walking and bus waiting infrastructure;
- Successfully installed 18 pay and display machines and 8 barrier entry and exit systems;
- Installed over 150 new cycle storage spaces;
- Introduced 20 Electric Vehicle charging points;
- Consultation and awareness raising had a positive effect on student retention;
- Improved relationships with the Local Authority and the local community;
- Improved accessibility to the site by all modes of transport for staff, students and visitors;
- Successfully discharged all transport and car parking related planning conditions.
Contract Data
Duration: 24 months
Contact: Ian Goodwin theparkingconsultancy@outlook.com
Tel: 01430 650343 or 07410 117113
Case Study