Richmond Council is set to repurpose 58 vacant car club bays across the borough following the withdrawal of Zipcar from the UK market. The Transport and Air Quality Committee, meeting on February 2, 2026, discussed proposals to address the significant reduction in car club provision.
The withdrawal of Zipcar, the dominant car club operator in London, has left a substantial number of bays empty. To encourage alternative car club operators to establish a presence in Richmond and maintain this sustainable transport option, the council is proposing to waive car club parking permit prices until April 2027. This measure aims to reduce barriers to entry for new operators.
Richmond Council will delegate authority to the Executive Director of Growth and Place to draft a new Service Level Agreement (SLA) for car club operators. This agreement will include requirements for operators to pay an annual parking permit fee, maintain membership of CoMoUK's car club accreditation scheme to ensure standards are met, and provide data to the council on a six-monthly basis to monitor performance. The SLA is proposed to be for a five-year term, renewable for up to five years, to provide certainty for operators.
Additionally, any car club bays that remain unoccupied or uncommitted by the end of summer 2026 will be repurposed for other uses. This decision, to be made in consultation with ward councillors, will prioritize sustainable transport options. Potential alternative uses for these bays include parking for cargo bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters, bikehangars, non-accredited car sharing schemes, and electric vehicle (EV) charging points. Resident parking is also listed as a potential alternative use.
When repurposing car club bays for alternative uses, the decision will be dependent on location and made after consultation with ward councillors. Changes to the use of bays will be confirmed via Traffic Management Orders. For bikehangars specifically, the process involves site visits by officers to determine suitable locations, aiming to avoid conflicts with utilities and ensure pavements are clear of obstructions. Objections related to safety or individual accessibility concerns will be considered during the consultation process.
The cost of purchasing and installing each bike hangar is around £4,000. If 40 hangars are consulted upon and delivered, the estimated cost would be £160,000. The cost for on-street cycle parking stands varies from approximately £500 to £10,000 depending on the type and installation location. The cost for EV charging points is not explicitly detailed in terms of repurposing bays, but the report mentions that EV charging points are subject to integration with EV chargepoint contracts.
Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee, noted the importance of car clubs in reducing car ownership and promoting active travel. It is estimated that there are more than 18,000 car club members in Richmond, though a significant proportion will only use the service occasionally. CoMoUK, the charity promoting shared mobility services, conducted a survey where up to 80% of respondents indicated they would now consider buying their own car. An increase in car ownership would lead to additional parking pressure, more vehicular trips, and contribute to congestion.
The committee also discussed the financial implications, with an estimated annual loss of £37,000 in permit revenue. However, it is anticipated that some of this loss could be offset by income generated from repurposed bays used for EV charging or resident parking. Waiving the fees until April 2027 is expected to have a relatively low impact on income, as much of this revenue is already lost due to Zipcar's withdrawal.
The council is actively engaging with other car club operators, including Enterprise and CoMoUK, to facilitate the transition and ensure continued provision of shared mobility services in the borough. The aim is to maintain car club provision in Richmond as much as possible and encourage occupation of car club bays by other accredited operators, thereby preventing an increase in private car ownership.
The report proposes to repurpose car club bays that remain unoccupied or uncommitted by car clubs by the end of summer 2026. The timeline for the consultation with ward councillors regarding this repurposing is aligned with this end-of-summer deadline.
While specific targets for car club usage are not detailed, the Service Level Agreement will include metrics such as membership numbers and utilisation by location to monitor performance and ensure the council's transport objectives are being met.
Public reports pack Monday 02-Feb-2026 19.00 Transport and Air Quality Committee.pdf
