New Parking Scheme aimed at helping residents park outside their own homes

 Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced that a new application process for residents' parking schemes will open in April 2026, giving residents a direct route to request consideration for parking zones in their area.

The application window will initially run for three months and will reopen on a cyclical basis thereafter. The announcement follows the publication of the Residents' Parking Review Report by former Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd in late 2024, which generated significant demand for the establishment of residents' parking zones across Northern Ireland.

Minister Kimmins said: "I am very much aware that parking is an issue of concern for residents in many areas and, along with my officials, I have been carefully considering the best way to address this. Since my predecessor John O'Dowd published the Residents' Parking Review Report in late 2024 there has been a significant level of demand for the establishment of residents' parking zones."

The new process is designed to provide a streamlined approach to considering, assessing and prioritising requests. Minister Kimmins noted that existing schemes already under development, including in the Bogside in Derry and the Iveagh area of Belfast, will continue to be progressed in the interim.

To qualify for consideration, an area must have persistent commuter or nuisance parking, consist entirely of public rather than private roads, and have less than 50 per cent of properties with access to off-street parking.

Newry and Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan welcomed the announcement, saying it would be warmly received by communities that have dealt with the issue for years. "Particularly in some areas, the issue of parking continues to impact residents, with many forced to park away from their home or street during busy periods. Our communities are not car parks and residents deserve the option to park close to their home."

Minister Kimmins added: "I would encourage those who believe their area would benefit from a residents' parking zone to review the criteria and guidance when it is published and consider submitting an application."

Further information, including guidance on how to apply, is available on NI Direct at www.nidirect.gov.uk/residents-parking.