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==Current operations==
==Current operations==
In 2007 National Car Parks Limited was acquired by [[Macquarie]] European Infrastructure Fund II [1]. .Today NCP hosts car parking across the UK, supporting some of the most popular public services such as [[London Heathrow]], [[Manchester Arena]] and Birmingham New Street.
In 2007 National Car Parks Limited was acquired by [[Macquarie]] European Infrastructure Fund II [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bc1d5ee2-d299-11db-a7c0-000b5df10621.html#axzz2mKJrQ77B [1<nowiki>]</nowiki>]. .Today NCP hosts car parking across the UK, supporting some of the most popular public services such as [[London Heathrow]], [[Manchester Arena]] and Birmingham New Street.


In 2013 NCP launched a new website and online strategy enabling customers to pre-book their parking at over 100 of their rail, city and town centre car parks. This was an industry first for the UK market.
In 2013 NCP launched a new website and online strategy enabling customers to pre-book their parking at over 100 of their rail, city and town centre car parks. This was an industry first for the UK market.

Revision as of 09:02, 8 January 2014

National Car Parks
Company typePrivate
IndustryCar parks and public outsourcing
Founded1931
HeadquartersEngland
Key people
Jo Cooper, CEO
OwnerMacquarie Bank
Websitewww.ncp.co.uk

National Car Parks (NCP) is the United Kingdom’s largest and longest standing private car park operator, with over 15,0000 spaces across more than 500 car parks in towns, cities, airports and London Underground and National Rail stations.

History

NCP was founded in 1931 by Colonel Frederick Lucas. In October 1948, Ronald Hobson founded Central Car Parks, joined by his partner Sir Donald Gosling after the pair invested £200 in a bombsite in Holborn, central London to create a carpark.[1] In 1959 Central Car Parks took over NCP from Anne Lucas, the widow of Colonel Lucas.[2]

Hobson and Gosling expanded the company by recognising the under developed status of many post-World War II British cities and towns. After the purchase of NCP the pair began buying sites in central London, converting them and large garage sites into car parks. NCP then began managing sites on behalf of third parties. National Parking Corporation was formed in 1986 as the holding company for NCP and its subsidiaries, including the roadside assistance firm Green Flag. In the early 1990s NCP was accused of planting spies in rival group Europarks, but Britain's then biggest industrial espionage trial ended with the acquittal of NCP chief executive Gordon Layton.

By the mid-1990s NCP had become one of the most successful private businesses. In 1994 it was a target of a £530million consortium bid of venture capital investors, led by Prudential, which eventually fell through. In 1998, after a late abortion of the flotation of the business on the London Stock Exchange, the company was bought by US-based property and travel services provider Cendant for £801million. Hobson, Gosling, and their family trusts who owned 72.5% of the National Parking Corporation taking £580million.[2]

The new owners re-focused the company’s operations, changing NCP from a mainly property owning company into a more service-focused organisation in the broader transport sector. In 1999, NCP divested itself of Green Flag which was sold to Direct Line. In the same year, the company launched the UK’s first private-public partnership – setting up a joint venture with Manchester City Council to establish NCP Manchester Ltd (NML).

In 2002, UK-based Cinven purchased NCP from Cendant. NCP began to develop business contracts in the provision of enforcement services for local authorities, vehicle removals, awarded two bus route contracts in west London; and debt recovery, where by 2005 it had become market leader in its field.

Current operations

In 2007 National Car Parks Limited was acquired by Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund II [1]. .Today NCP hosts car parking across the UK, supporting some of the most popular public services such as London Heathrow, Manchester Arena and Birmingham New Street.

In 2013 NCP launched a new website and online strategy enabling customers to pre-book their parking at over 100 of their rail, city and town centre car parks. This was an industry first for the UK market.

Events

National Car Parks has become very popular with numerous industries looking for an alternative style venue.

Since 2010 House of Holland has booked out the Brewer Street NCP to host their catwalk shows for London Fashion Week previous attendees have included Alexa Chung, Jamie Winstone and Rachel Bilson [5].

In Cardiff, Evans Cycles have created the Urban Duel, a BMX racing event that takes place in NCP Dumfries Place. There are plans to host this event at other car parks around the country [6].

Art Drive exhibited its collection of classic BMW’s designed by famous artists including Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Jeff Koons and Roy Lichtenstein at the Great Eastern Street NCP in Shoreditch [7].

As part of the Manchester International Festival, National Car Parks arranged a live relay screening of Keneth Branagh’s new play Macbeth with hundreds of funs turning up to the open air screening. [8].

Controversies

In the early 1990s NCP was accused of planting spies in rival group Europarks, but Britain's then biggest industrial espionage trial ended with the full acquittal of NCP chief executive Gordon Layton [9].


See also

References

  1. ^ NCP sold to 3i for £555m The Times - July 13, 2005
  2. ^ a b Millions for car park entrepreneurs BBC News - 24 March 1998