Third former NCP city centre car park reopens

A third car park in Leicester previously run by National Car Parks (NCP) has reopened, the city council has said.

The Abbey Street site was one of five in the city to close after the company went into administration in March.

On Tuesday, the city council said Euro Car Parks had taken over the operation of the multi-storey car park.

It was announced on 27 April that the firm had also taken over the running of car parks located in St Nicholas Circle and East Street.

NCP's administrator, PwC, decided to shut car parks at Lee Circle, Rutland Street, Abbey Street and East Street on 27 March, and the city council said on 15 April it had been informed the site in St Nicholas Circle would cease operating.

The closures resulted in a loss of more than 3,000 car parking spaces in the city centre.

After confirming the reopening of the Abbey Street site, city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "Although Leicester benefits from a good range of parking spaces, the re-opening of these car parks gives people more choice and reassurance when visiting the city centre, so this news is very welcome."

The Rutland Street and Lee Circle car parks remain closed, but Soulsby said council officers were having "ongoing discussions" with the owners of the buildings and interested parties.

The Leicester closures were among more than 20 NCP sites set to shut nationwide, according to PwC.

The NCP car park at the Britannia Shopping Centre in Hinckley was also among the sites earmarked for closure.

However, the Hinckley Business Improvement District group said in March the site would remain open and free to use after NCP relinquished its management, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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