Those travelling to Lancaster University by car can park in designated areas on campus. Please be aware of permit requirements and restrictions to avoid fines when parking at the University.
From 1 October 2025, all car parks at Lancaster University will be fully digitalised and enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). Charges for car parking will be in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.*
The first hour on campus will be free to allow for pick-ups, drop-offs, and deliveries. Charges will apply for vehicles parked for longer than one hour. Please note, the hour begins when the vehicle enters campus, not when the vehicle is parked.
*There will be no charge for parking during Graduation, Open Days, and Offer Holder Events.
Information about Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) and when they may be issued is contained in the University's vehicle regulations. Please be aware that PCNs will typically be sent to the address of the vehicle's registered keeper as stored by the DVLA- this may be an important consideration for drivers who live at a different address in term-time, for example.
Appeals
If you do receive a parking contravention notice (PCN), you will need to appeal directly to First Parking- it is important that this is done as soon as you receive the notice.
To appeal your PCN, please contact First Parking directly via email and follow the information on your penalty notice. If you have more than one penalty notice, you should appeal each one separately. You should not appeal via the Lancaster car parking office email address.
accordion
Staff should not park on any public roads close to the University campus. This is in the interests of road safety and local residents.
Annual staff parking permits
Current staff should apply for an annual staff parking permit during the Flexible Benefits window. New staff can apply for a permit on commencing their role. Prices vary depending on staff grades and contracts. The starting level for staff permit is 0.01 - 0.66FTE.
Annual parking permits are valid from the start to the end of the University’s academic year. A digital permit will automatically be registered under each vehicle after being purchased during the Flexible Benefits window.
As in previous years, non-University staff (co-located business tenant and retail tenants) will be able to purchase permits at the same cost as LU staff.
View the Car Parking Policy – Principal Document 2025-26for an overview of the University's parking policies, prices and arrangements and the general policies that apply to all parking users.
Parking zones
Staff parking permit holders are permitted to park anywhere in the Main Campus parking zone, which includes the Health Innovation Campus, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This excludes Bowland Avenue, which is available for visitor parking only.
View the Main Campus parking zone on MazeMap from 1 October 2025.
Car sharing permits
Current staff can apply for a car sharing permit during the Flexible Benefits window. A maximum of three vehicles can be registered on one permit. The lead purchaser will need to input additional vehicle details at the point of purchase.
Please note, only one vehicle can park on campus at one time. If a second vehicle comes on to campus, an additional parking session must be purchased via RingGo or at a cashless payment terminal.
Switch to the bus
Staff who held an annual parking permit for the previous academic year are eligible for an additional switch discount by opting for a Unirider Bus Pass. Unfortunately, parking permit holders are not eligible for a subsidised bus pass and visa versa, so staff should assess the best commuting method for them based on their own circumstances.
Students should not park on any public roads close to the University campus. This is in the interests of road safety and local residents.
Lancaster University has the highest frequency of city-to-campus buses of any campus university in the UK, as well as excellent cycling and walking routes, so many students find that they do not need a car.
The Student Parking Policy 2025-26 details prices and the eligibility criteria for student parking permits, and how to apply.
Please contact the Car Parking team to request the Student Parking Policy, via email car-parking@lancaster.ac.uk.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) fixed camera enforcement operates across Lancaster University’s Bailrigg Campus.
Annual and termly permits (Alexandra Park and Chancellor’s Wharf)
Annual parking permits are subject to eligibility criteria and are valid from the start to the end of the University’s academic year.
Students with a campus parking permit can park on South West Campus Parking Zone (Alexandra Park) only.
Residents with a Chancellor’s Wharf parking permit can park at Chancellor’s Wharf only. Purchase a digital permit by emailing the parking team.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) fixed camera enforcement operates at Chancellor’s Wharf.
Visitors of residents at Chancellor’s Wharf can purchase parking per day via theOnline Store, where vehicle details must be logged.
Student parking at Health Innovation Campus
Students can park at the Health Innovation Campus using an Accessible Parking Permit, the RingGo app, or the onsite, card-only payment machine. Electric vehicles can park in EV bays but must pay the Day Visitor Rate using the payment machine.
Change of vehicle
Please register the replacement car's details with the Car Parking Office, parking team, to transfer the permit to a new vehicle.
Dedicated accessible parking spaces are provided across campus to users with an Accessible Permit (AP). To apply for an AP, students and staff must provide the necessary medical evidence electronically to the Car Parking Office. This process is completed during the Flexible Benefits window for staff.
Accessible Permits are valid in all car parking spaces on campus, including all marked accessible parking spaces.
Staff and Tenant Staff Eligibility
University staff can select the Accessible Permit option through Flexible Benefits and submit their evidence as soon as possible. All other staff and tenants should contact the Car Parking team directly by emailing car-parking@lancaster.ac.uk.
Staff eligibility will be determined by the Security Operations Manager. Please note, some AP Permits will only be issued on a temporary basis (for instance in the case of someone returning to work after illness, surgery or injury).
To be eligible, staff must provide at least one of the following:
Proof of a valid Blue Badge.
Written correspondence from a GP or other medical professional which demonstrates a medical need for an AP Permit on the basis of a limitation to an individual’s personal mobility on physical, psychological or short-term illness grounds.
Pregnant staff may be eligible at the discretion of the Security Operations Manager.
Student Eligibility
Students should apply through the Car Parking team directly via email car-parking@lancaster.ac.uk. Blue Badge holders must provide proof of a valid Blue Badge. Students with temporary reduced mobility or medical conditions that adversely impact on mobility must provide evidence that satisfies the following criteria:
Letter signed by a medical professional (GP or specialist) on headed paper;
The letter should be dated within the last 12 months (required for a temporary period only);
The letter should include a timeframe of relevance.
Accessible Parking Permits can only be used in the vehicle registered to the permit and only whilst the permit holder is the driver of the vehicle. On occasions that the Accessible Parking Permit holder is driving another vehicle, the driver must contact University Security on 01524 594541 with details of the alternative vehicle.
Blue Badge Holders
Staff and student registered Blue Badge holders can park free of charge, but must register their vehicle with the Car Parking Office, car-parking@lancaster.ac.uk, and provide evidence of their Blue Badge.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) fixed camera enforcement operates across Lancaster University’s Bailrigg Campus. Visitors are required to pay for their parking at an on-site, card-only payment machine, or using RingGo UK. Detailed instructions on using RingGo to pay for parking are signposted at all* car parks.
Visitors can park in any Main Campus parking zone, which includes Health Innovation Campus (HIC).
Visitor Parking Rates
Visitor parking charges do not apply during major University events such as Open Days, Offer Holder Events, Graduation, and Arrivals Weekend.
Monday - Friday (8am - 6pm)
Main Campus (including HIC)
£2.60 / 2 hours £4 / 4 hours £6 / day
Alexandra Park
£2.60 / 2 hours £4 / day
Sports Centre Car Park*
Free / 2 hours (for Sports Centre users)
Sports Centre Car Parking
Sports Field Car Park*
Free / 2 hours (for Sports Centre users) £4 / day
*Sport Lancaster customers can park for up to two hours free of charge with a valid ticket at the Sports Centre Car Park, subject to availability and restrictions. This car park operates a no-return policy within 1 hour. If there are no spaces available, please use the Overflow Car Park (Sports Field Car Park), where parking is free for two hours with the option to use RingGo for any additional hours.
Visitors holding Blue Badges should pay for their parking session via Ringo or the Metric payment terminal in accordance with local signage.
Please contact the Car Parking team by emailing car-parking@lancaster.ac.uk to discuss accessible parking with a Blue Badge.
Contractors who regularly visit campus can apply for an annual, termly, or monthly parking permit by emailing the Car Parking Office, car-parking@lancaster.ac.uk.
Alternatively, daily parking payments can be purchased through the RingGo app or an on-site, card-only payment machine. RingGo operates at all car parks, the Sports Field, and Alexandra Park.
Long-wheelbase vehicles must park next to the Central Waste Compound, the Sports Field, or at the Health Innovation Campus.
Contractors are not permitted to park in site compounds. Parking Charge Notices will be issued under the Parking Policy.
Parking cannot be purchased from the Security Lodge.
A discounted annual parking permit is available to Plug-in Electric Vehicles. The use of electric charging points is charged additionally to the permit at a flat rate of 40p/kWh.
Please note that this permit is available for Electric Vehicles only, and other vehicles cannot be added to this permit.
View the Car Parking Policy – Principal Document 2025-26for an overview of the University's parking policies, prices and arrangements and the general policies that apply to all parking users.
Using a Charging Point
Drivers must use the AMP-EV app to access a charging point, plug in their charging cable, and press start session on the app.
The charging session is ended via the app, and drivers are reminded to remember their charging cable before leaving the charging point.
For help, contact Amp EV at anytime on 0800 368 9125.
Charging Point Locations
Furness Avenue: 19 spaces
South Drive between Pendle College and InfoLab21: 2 spaces
Farrer Avenue: 1 space
Health Innovation Campus: 10 spaces
Gillow Avenue: 1 space
John Creed Avenue: 12 spaces
Barker House Avenue: 6 student spaces
Faculties, divisions, and departments may wish to purchase parking sessions for official guests using a departmental budget code. Instructions for doing this are as follows:
Submit a Parking Request. (If details are known, the request can be submitted in advance. Alternatively, the request should be submitted within one hour of the guest arriving on campus)
Your guest may park in an appropriate bay (e.g. only EV vehicles being charged in EV bays and Blue Badge holders in accessible bays)
The Car Parking Office will recharge monthly using the budget code given on the request form
Approved staff, nominated by the budget holder, will be able to complete the form. Budget holders should email the Car Parking Office (car-parking@lancaster.ac.uk) with the names of up to three people who are authorised to use the budget code
Budgets will be charged at a daily rate of £6 per vehicle per day, or part thereof
Any other visitors or non-permit holders must pay for Visitor Parking and comply with the parking policy.
Emergency call-outs
In an emergency, staff members with an annual permit can park in any zone on campus at any time of day, Monday - Sunday. Staff without an annual permit can take advantage of the one-hour free grace period.
If the callout lasts longer than one hour, please contact the Car Parking Office, car-parking@lancaster.ac.uk, with callout information and vehicle details.
Deliveries
ANPR reviews each image taken by the camera manually. Where the vehicle is a service vehicle (i.e. taxi, bus, bin wagon, coach, etc), a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will not be issued, and there will be no need to register the vehicle.
However, if the vehicle is parked irresponsibly (e.g. blocking an emergency exit or on double yellow lines) the vehicle may receive a PCN via the Lancaster University Security's handheld enforcement patrolling the campus.
Car parking locations, including accessible and electric vehicle spaces, can be viewed on MazeMap, the interactive campus map.
From Wednesday 1 October, there will be no differentiation between staff and visitor parking zones, except for the Welcome Centre car park on Bowland Avenue, which will remain visitor-only.
Car parking on campus will be split into four zones:
Main Campus (including HIC)
Alexandra Park
Sports Field Car Park*
Sports Centre Car Park*
Vehicles registered with a daily parking session on Main Campus can park in any appropriate parking bay in the Main Campus zone**
Vehicles registered with a daily parking session on Alexandra Park or the Sports Field Car Park must remain in those zones.
Students who have an approved parking permit must park on Alexandra Park only.
Staff and student registered Blue Badge Holders can park in any accessible bay displaying the appropriate Blue Badge.
*2 hours free parking for Sports Centre users.
**Please see separate policies for Accessible and EV parking.
Policy and Enforcement
From 1 October 2025, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) fixed camera enforcement operates across Lancaster University’s Bailrigg Campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Car park users who do not have a digital permit are required to purchase a digital parking ticket using RingGo Cashless Parking Solution and park in a designated area.
