Q-Park to improve accessibility at popular London car park

Award-winning parking company Q-Park took over management of the Oxford Street car park in 2011 and have since been planning to offer customers a new access route, via the installation of a lift. After two years of developing the initial idea, Westminster City Council has now approved Q-Park’s plans, allowing them to build this important new feature.

Q-Park recently completed a £2million refurbishment of the 444-space Oxford Street car park located underneath Cavendish Square to improve the facilities and turn it into a premium parking destination. With the addition of the new lift, the car park will now be accessible for all drivers and passengers to enter and exit safely.

The glass panelled lift will be built into the public park on Cavendish Square and an external transparent shaft will envelope the lift, to ensure it is sympathetic to the surrounding environment without looking imposing. Q-Park will etch designs of trees, based on those in the park, onto the glass frame which will be encompassed by surrounding plants and bushes. The unique design will offer customers a direct route into the car park, whilst appearing to be an organic feature within the parkland.

Adam Bidder, Managing Director of Q-Park comments, “We are extremely pleased to have been given planning permission to build a new lift at Oxford Street. The car park is in a popular destination within the capital and plans to install a lift have always been at the forefront of our development strategy for this site. At present Q-Park Hosts offer to assist customers as and when needed, but this is not an ideal solution and can present problems. The new lift will ensure all customers are able to park with us without the worry of limited access routes.”

Helen Dolphin, Director of Policy and Campaigns at Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) comments, “Prior to this announcement, the Oxford Street car park was for many disabled people completely inaccessible. We’re delighted that Q-Park have received planning permission to have a lift installed so that disabled people can use it. I have no doubt being able to park in one of the best shopping areas in the UK will be good for both disabled customers and retailers in the area.”