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The Workplace Parking Scheme is changing

As many staff will be aware Government policy on salary sacrifice schemes is changing and it will impact on workplace parking schemes across the country.

The University regrets the change in Government policy, which will result in a shortfall in income. Recognising the impact on household budgets, the University will subsidise a phased price increase over 5 years.

For details of the applicable prices from April 2017 onwards, see our prices page. All parking income plus more is invested in parking and other sustainable transport initiatives on and around campus.

The Government deadline for joining the Workplace Parking Scheme (our existing salary sacrifice option) is the end of March 2017. Parking permits will still be available to eligible staff after this date, but you won't be able to purchase them via salary sacrifice.

What does this mean for staff?

I'm currently paying for my permit via the Workplace Parking Scheme... am I affected?

Those salaried staff already in the Workplace Parking Scheme will remain unaffected until April 2018 when, due to Government policy changes, the scheme must be disbanded.

If you're not already in the scheme, but join before the end of March 2017, you can remain in it for the full 12 months until the end of March 2018, unless you choose to leave it before this date.

I’m going to change my hours… am I affected?

Unfortunately the changes in Government policy mean that anyone who increases their hours will no longer be eligible for the Workplace Parking Scheme. Following the change in hours you’ll pay the new subsidised gross rate, calculated pro rata based on your new hours.

I've got a permit, but I'm not sure if I'm in the Workplace Parking Scheme...

If you currently have a car parking permit, paid for monthly via payroll, you can check if you are currently in the Workplace Parking Scheme by visiting the parking permits page, and checking the details of your permit.

  • If you are currently in the scheme, it will be listed, under “Type”, as “Workplace Parking Scheme (paid via salary sacrifice)”.
  • If you are not currently in the scheme, it will be listed, under “Type”, as “Full permit price”.

How will my monthly payments change from 1 April 2017?

Grade 1a - 2 salaried staff

You will not experience any difference this April as a result of the Salary Sacrifice scheme changes. Currently, staff on grades 1a – 2 are not eligible for a permit, so you’ll continue to pay the existing Low Rate.

Grade 3 – 5 salaried staff
  • If you are currently a member of the Workplace Parking scheme (our salary sacrifice option), your payments will not change from 1 April 2017 unless you choose to leave the scheme.
  • If you currently purchase a full gross price permit via monthly payroll rather than a Workplace Parking scheme option, but choose to change to a Workplace Parking scheme permit before 1 April 2017, your payments from salary will stay the same at £25.74 but the net effect of paying after tax and insurance will be £17.50 (on average) – a saving of £8.24 per month.
  • If you currently purchase a full gross price permit via monthly payroll rather than a Workplace Parking scheme, and you don’t change to a Workplace Parking scheme permit before 1 April 2017, your payments will drop, due to the University’s subsidies on full rate permits. They will go from £25.74 to £18.70 – a saving of £7.04 per month.
  • If you do not currently have a staff parking permit, but apply for one before 1 April 2017, you will be able to join the salary sacrifice Workplace Parking Scheme by selecting the “Workplace Parking Scheme (paid via salary sacrifice)” permit type. The gross monthly price will be £25.74 but the net effect of paying after tax and insurance will be £17.50 (on average) – a saving of £8.24 per month.
  • If you do not currently have a staff parking permit, but apply for one from 1 April 2017, the monthly price will be the new University’s subsidised rate of £18.70.
Grade 6 – 7 salaried staff
  • If you are currently a member of the Workplace Parking scheme (our salary sacrifice option), your payments will not change from 1 April 2017 unless you choose to leave the scheme.
  • If you currently purchase a full gross price permit via monthly payroll rather than a Workplace Parking scheme, but choose to change to a Workplace Parking scheme permit before 1 April 2017, your payments from salary will stay the same at £33.38 but the net effect of paying after tax and insurance will be £22.70 (on average) – a saving of £10.68 per month.
  • If you currently purchase a full gross price permit via monthly payroll rather than a Workplace Parking scheme, and you don’t change to a Workplace Parking scheme permit before 1 April 2017, your payments will also drop, due to the University’s subsidies on full rate permits. They will go from £33.38 to £24.25 – a saving of £9.13 per month.
  • If you do not currently have a staff parking permit, but apply for one before 1 April 2017, you will be able to join the salary sacrifice Workplace Parking Scheme by selecting the “Workplace Parking Scheme (paid via salary sacrifice)” permit type. The gross monthly price will be £33.38 but the net effect of paying after tax and insurance will be £22.70 (on average) – a saving of £10.68 per month.
  • If you do not currently have a staff parking permit, but apply for one from 1 April 2017, the monthly price will be the new University’s subsidised rate of £24.25.
Grade 8 – 9 salaried staff
  • If you are currently a member of the Workplace Parking scheme (our salary sacrifice option), your payments will not change from 1 April 2017 unless you choose to leave the scheme.
  • If you currently purchase a full gross price permit via monthly payroll rather than a Workplace Parking scheme, but choose to change to a Workplace Parking scheme permit before 1 April 2017, your payments from salary will stay the same at £39.14 but the net effect of paying after tax and insurance will be £22.70 (on average) – a saving of £16.44 per month.
  • If you currently purchase a full gross price permit via monthly payroll rather than a Workplace Parking scheme, and you don’t change to a Workplace Parking scheme permit before 1 April 2017, your payments will also drop, due to the University’s subsidies on full rate permits. They will go from £39.14 to £24.67 – a saving of £14.47 per month.
  • If you do not currently have a staff parking permit, but apply for one before 1 April 2017, you will be able to join the salary sacrifice Workplace Parking Scheme by selecting the “Workplace Parking Scheme (paid via salary sacrifice)” permit type. The gross monthly price will be £39.14 but the net effect of paying after tax and insurance will be £22.70 (on average) – a saving of £16.44 per month.
  • If you do not currently have a staff parking permit, but apply for one from 1 April 2017, the monthly price will be the new University’s subsidised rate of £24.67.
Non-salaried staff

You will not experience any difference this April as a result of the Salary Sacrifice scheme changes. Non-salaried staff are not eligible for a permit, so you’ll continue to pay the existing rate for your group.

Should I join the Workplace Parking Scheme?

If you are eligible to join the scheme (i.e. you’re a salaried member of staff on any pay grade from 3 to 9), joining the Salary Sacrifice scheme before 1 April 2017 will mean that your monthly permit payments will be lower than those who aren’t members of the scheme, but those not joining the scheme will have access to the University subsidised rates for staff permits from April 2017 onwards.