Technology Trial
Parking shapes everyday life in Mid Sussex and plays an important role in how well our communities and local economy function.
It is about how well our car parks work, how effectively inconsiderate and dangerous on-street parking is enforced, and whether residents and businesses can rely on a system that feels fair, safe, and easy to use. These are the things people tell us matter most - being able to find a space, park with confidence, keep streets safe and accessible, and support town and village centres that are convenient, welcoming and able to thrive.
The Council’s Parking Strategy 2020–2030 provides a long-term framework rather than a series of short-term decisions. As part of our work to improve our car parks to modernise, making it much easier for people to park, we are introducing some new technology as part of a trial in the Summer of 2026, to test how technology can make the experience of parking better and easier for residents and businesses.
2026 Technology Trial
We are running a technology trial at three car parks in the district: Cyprus Road (Burgess Hill), Vicarage (East Grinstead) and Hazelgrove Road (Haywards Heath).
As part of the trial, we’re testing newer pay and display machines at these car parks, replacing older machines that residents told us could be slow and difficult to use.
The new machines are faster, modern solar powered terminals where you can pay by cash and card. Day to day, residents should see very little difference to how they park, apart from using a newer machine and entering their vehicle registration number when buying a ticket.
For blue badge holders there is no change and no need to register. Blue badge holders should continue to park as they do now and display their badge.
To support a better and more efficient parking service, the new machines will be connected to Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. This will allow us to soon launch an additional brand new payment service, allowing users to enter the carpark and leave the carpark without having to use a payment machine, or the MiPermit App, at all. Carparking charges will be deducted from a pre-registered card for the time used in the carpark.
Furthermore, the ANPR technology will help Civil Enforcement Officers identify vehicles that may need checking, so they can spend less time manually reviewing tickets in car parks and more time tackling inconsiderate parking on streets and in local communities.
The system does not automatically issue Penalty Charge Notices. Any notices will continue to be considered and issued by Civil Enforcement Officers following their inspection. For residents using the car parks, the parking process will remain familiar, with the main change being the use of the new machine.
These improvements are part of Mid Sussex District Council’s Parking Strategy Action Plan, which helps us to keep our car parks safe, accessible, well maintained and easy to use for residents and businesses in Mid Sussex.
Frequently Asked Questions
As part of the technology trial, new pay and display machines are being introduced at three Mid Sussex District Council car parks. The new machines have a touchscreen system and are designed to be efficient and easy to use.
Parking charges, payment methods and the overall parking process will remain the same, other than people entering their number plate when they pay for their parking. Day to day, the main difference for residents will be using the new touchscreen machine and entering their vehicle registration number when purchasing a ticket.
The technology trial is taking place at:
- Cyprus Road car park, Burgess Hill
- Vicarage car park, East Grinstead
- Hazelgrove Road car park, Haywards Heath
The new machines are designed to make paying for parking simpler and more convenient. They have a modern touchscreen system, and drivers will be asked to enter their vehicle registration number when purchasing a ticket.
The new machines offer an overall improved user experience while continuing to support a range of payment methods, including cash, card and app payments.
Yes. Drivers can continue to pay for parking using cash, card or app payments.
For most residents, day-to-day parking will feel the same. Parking charges, payment methods and the overall parking process will remain very similar. The main difference is that users will pay at the new touchscreen machine and enter their vehicle registration number when purchasing a ticket.
For blue badge holders there is no change and no need to register. Blue badge holders should continue to park as they do now and display their badge.
Civil Enforcement Officers will continue to check and verify blue badges so that holders can continue to receive their parking benefits.
No. Blue badge holders do not need to register and should continue to park as they do now and display their badge.
No. The ANPR technology does not automatically issue Penalty Charge Notices. It helps Civil Enforcement Officers identify vehicles that may require further inspection, but any Penalty Charge Notices will continue to be considered and issued by an officer following their inspection.
Yes. You still need the purchase a ticket, however in future trials we are looking at how people might be able to register a card to a system, and therefore automatically get charged for the time they park for, making it even easier. However, we will continue to provide residents with choice and cash, and card payments will be available.
No. Our current parking policy states that tickets are not transferrable. The new machines will mean that parking tickets are linked to the vehicle registration entered at the time of payment and cannot be transferred to another vehicle.
The ANPR technology is expected to begin operating by early August. Once live, it will record vehicle registration numbers as vehicles enter and leave the car park to support a more efficient parking service.
This will help Civil Enforcement Officers spend less time manually checking tickets and more time tackling inconsiderate and anti-social parking that affects people’s daily lives, including parking near schools, junctions and on pavements.