Oxford Hospital Parking Crisis Sparks Calls for New Car Park

John Radcliffe Hospital Parking Pressure Prompts Fresh Warning

Oxford Hospital Parking Crisis Sparks Calls for More Car Parking at John Radcliffe Calls for a multi-storey car park at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital have resurfaced as concerns over limited parking continue to affect patients, visitors and staff. The issue has returned to the spotlight while the hospital is undergoing major redevelopment, including an £8 million Women’s Centre improvement project that is affecting Car Park 2A during construction. The campaign for additional parking dates back to 2022, when Oxford City Council debated a motion calling for a long-term solution with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The proposal included consideration of a decked car park and was backed by a petition that attracted almost 5,000 online signatures, along with a further 1,300 signatures on paper. Pressure on Hospital Parking No multi-storey car park has since been approved or built at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington. Councillor David Henwood has now warned that continued pressure on hospital parking could have wider consequences for health in Oxford, particularly for people who have limited mobility or no practical alternative to travelling by car. He said that for some patients and families, parking is more than a convenience and can affect their ability to get to hospital for appointments and access care or support. Hospital volunteer Steve Fisher also raised concerns about the limited number of spaces, saying parking complaints are among the issues he hears most frequently from people at the hospital. He argued that patients can already be under stress when attending hospital appointments and that difficulty finding a parking space can add further pressure. The concerns come as further hospital development is expected, including a new Assessment Unit and more operating theatres, which could increase demand for parking from people travelling to the site. However, claims that Oxford City Council had previously refused planning permission for a multi-storey car park have been disputed. Councillor Anna Railton said the city council had never refused permission for a multi-storey car park at the John Radcliffe and that no formal planning application for one had ever been submitted. The parking debate is also taking place alongside wider efforts in Oxfordshire to reduce dependence on private cars and encourage other forms of transport. Oxfordshire County Council is due to replace its temporary congestion charge with six traffic filters from 28 September, restricting vehicle movements on selected routes at certain times unless drivers qualify for permits. Oxford City Council said both councils continue to work with the hospitals on parking and access, including new direct bus routes and a Park & Ride offer for staff. For patients, visitors and staff who rely on cars, the availability of hospital parking remains an important practical issue as activity and redevelopment at the John Radcliffe continue. The renewed calls for a multi-storey car park therefore put parking capacity back at the centre of the discussion over how patients and staff will access the hospital in the future.