Overnight parking at one of Newcastle’s busiest city centre car parks is set to continue after a successful trial, while extended opening hours at another site will come to an end.
Newcastle City Council introduced a six-month trial in November allowing both the Dean Street and Grainger Town multi-storey car parks to remain open overnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
The scheme was designed to provide safer parking options for people working late shifts in the city’s bars, clubs, hotels and hospitality venues. Instead of closing at midnight, both car parks remained open through the night, with an additional charge of 50p per hour between 7pm and midnight helping to fund overnight security patrols.
However, council analysis has found a significant difference in demand between the two locations. A report reviewing the trial found that the Dean Street car park generated a net profit of £7,777 during the six-month period, while the Grainger Town site recorded a loss of £3,532.
Council officers concluded that demand at Grainger Town was unlikely to improve enough to justify keeping the extended hours. The report stated that usage during overnight hours was substantially higher at Dean Street, demonstrating stronger demand from motorists.
On average, 33 vehicles left the Dean Street car park between midnight and 6am on weekends during the trial, compared with just 14 vehicles at Grainger Town.
As a result, Newcastle City Council plans to continue the overnight weekend opening at Dean Street while reverting Grainger Town back to its previous operating arrangements.
If approved, Grainger Town will once again close at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, with chargeable parking ending at 7pm.
Feedback gathered during the trial highlighted the benefits of overnight parking for city centre workers and visitors. One respondent described the facility as “essential for nightlife workers”, saying it reduced concerns about personal safety when travelling late at night.
Another user said the extended opening hours made it easier to enjoy a night out in the city centre while leaving a vehicle in a secure location until the following day.
The council expects the changes at Grainger Town to come into effect in September.
