FEATURE CAR PARK REFURBISHMENT
Testing times call for temporary measures
WHEN BUDGETS ARE RESTRICTED BUT A PARKING SOLUTION IS NEEDED, OPERATORS COULD CONSIDER INVESTING IN SECOND-HAND STRUCTURES, SUGGESTS CHIARA CAGNAZZO
T
he recession, and ensuing austerity measures, have had an impact on every sector of industry, and the world of parking is no exception. One of the potential consequences is that more car
park operators are opting for refurbishment rather than new builds when it comes to facility updates. Hospital car parks are no different from any other facility in this respect. Hospitals which in the past have chosen to buy
parking structures, have found that it can take a long time to pay off the initial capital investment, and that increased parking charges – unpopular with patients and visitors – are not the best choice. In some cases, the demand for parking spaces may be lower than the anticipated hosting capacity of the structure, which could result in a waste of money for the National Health Service. It is not always easy to assess parking needs – they can change unexpectedly and the demand curve might vary over time – it is therefore important to be able to have a dynamic and flexible management of parking areas, especially during recessions. Parking provision at sites such as hospitals will
always be indispensable. While the cost-reduction strategy is going to be more restrictive, with a subsequent reduction in demand for new builds, there is always going to be a need for hospital parking. Some NHS trusts try to find a ‘second- hand’ parking solution in order to keep costs down. Savings can be made by buying modular parking decks, which can be dismantled and removed when no longer needed. Tese can then be resold and moved to a new hospital.
Shorter payback Te option of reselling, dismantling and relocating dispenses with the need for high levels of investment. Expenditure on a refurbishment or
www.britishparking.co.uk MARCH 2011 61
THE LIFECYCLE OF MATERIALS USED FOR THE PARKING STRUCTURES INSTALLED AT STEPPING HILL HOSPITAL IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 20 YEARS
second-hand car park would offer savings of about 50 per cent on the budget needed for a new build. Te lower level of investment into increased car space would mean the payback period would be shorter than on a new build. During the financial crisis, a refurbishment approach, instead of a new build procurement strategy, would offer a chance to improve the rentability of parking spaces, while increasing revenue for both the buyer and reseller. A further factor in favour of refurbishment, rather
than rebuild, is the time involved. Quick installation time is an added convenience to the operator. Te steel-made parking decks are generally planned, designed and installed, with the focus on dealing with temporary parking needs and a quick surge in parking demand. But refurbishment as a parking solution has
its critics. Te savings made by dismantling and relocating car parks can lead to substandard material being used. Tis increases the cost of maintenance, in turn having a – possibly unexpected – impact on budgeting. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust purchased some modular, demountable car park deck systems,
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