Buckinghamshire Council has taken a major step forward in improving the parking experience for residents and visitors with the installation of 76 brand-new IPS solar-powered, card-only, ticketless parking machines. The upgrade is part of the council’s Parking Strategy, adopted in February 2024, which aims to modernise payment options and increase reliability for those parking across the county.
From Faulty Machines to a Reliable, Modern Solution
Until recently, many of the county’s 273 parking payment machines were plagued by faults – including communication failures, hardware and software malfunctions, and payment processing issues. This meant residents often faced downtime in key locations, causing frustration and impacting the council’s parking income.
Recognising that 95% of all parking transactions are now digital, the council decided to focus investment where it’s most needed: in off-street car parks, where there is still demand for payment machines. On-street machines have largely been phased out except in key areas.
Partnering with IPS for Innovation and Reliability
After a detailed market assessment, Buckinghamshire Council selected IPS Group UK for its proven track record in delivering innovative, environmentally friendly parking solutions.
The new IPS machines:
– Operate solar power, reducing carbon emissions.
– Accept card payments only, supporting the council’s move toward cashless transactions.
– Operate ticket-free, helping to cut waste.
The result? A sustainable, modern parking system that maintains a steady income stream with minimal environmental impact.
Phased Rollout Across the County
The installation began in October 2024 and was completed across multiple phases in December 2024, January 2025, and March 2025 – all delivered on time.
Key car parks to receive the upgrade include:
– Cornwalls Meadow, Buckingham
– Wendover Library, Wendover
– Star Yard & Catlings, Chesham
– Amersham Multi-Storey Car Park (AMSCP)
– Sycamore Road, Amersham
– Pound Lane, Marlow
Some car parks saw a major rationalisation of machines. For example, Amersham MSCP reduced from 14 outdated pay-and-display machines to five strategically placed pay-on-foot machines, improving efficiency and customer flow.
A Strong Return on Investment
The council invested just under £500,000 in the new machines, which have already processed more than £850,000 in transactions. A five-year maintenance contract ensures near 100% uptime, with financial penalties for non-performance.
Future plans include reinvesting parking income to replace all remaining non-IPS machines by the end of 2025, ensuring consistency across the county’s car parks.
IPS is proud to partner with Buckinghamshire Council in delivering this next-generation parking solution – making payment quick, reliable, and environmentally responsible.
