A new ‘smart parking’ system which would allow drivers to locate empty parking spaces via a smartphone app is scheduled to be rolled out by Westminster council next week.
The council, in collaboration with Smart Parking, will start deploying 3,000 infra-red sensors in ‘paid-for’ and disabled parking spots across the West End on 20 January.
The deployed infra-red sensors detect if a car is parked over them, and then verify whether or not the parking spot is unoccupied.
The ‘ParkRight app’, which is currently available for iOS and Android devices on the Apple Store and Google store, would then offer drivers with a real-time map of available parking and direct them to a vacant space.
The roll out comes in the wake of a trial with a network of 189 sensors in five London streets including Saville Row, Jermyn Street and St John’s Wood High Street.
Being executed with an investment of £889,395, the initial phase of the rollout is anticipated to be completed three years.
Westminster council would consider extending the smart parking to the 7,000 other parking bays in the borough, if the initial deployment proves successful.
