National Car Parks (NCP) is a British private car park operator. Founded in 1931, it manages off-street car parks in towns and cities, including sites at airports, hospitals and National Rail stations.
In 2017 the business was acquired by Park24 and the Development Bank of Japan. On 16 March 2026, the company entered administration and PwC was appointed as administrator.
The company was incorporated in 1931 and is commonly traced to its founder, Colonel Frederick Lucas. It expanded after being acquired in 1959 by Central Car Parks, a business formed by Sir Ronald Hobson and Sir Donald Gosling, who developed car parks on vacant sites in central London after the Second World War.
In 1998 NCP was sold to the US company Cendant for ã801 million. In 2005 it was acquired by 3i for ã555 million. In 2007, 3i sold NCP's off-street parking business to a fund managed by Macquarie for ã790 million. Macquarie later agreed a sale to a consortium of Park24 and the Development Bank of Japan in 2017.
In March 2026, NCP entered administration, with PwC appointed as administrators while the business continued to trade.
NCP operates off-street car parks across the United Kingdom, including locations in town and city centres and at major transport hubs.
NCP previously operated a portfolio of Transport for London station car parks; the contract was awarded to Saba with effect from January 2023.
In 1993 NCP chief executive Gordon Layton was acquitted in an Old Bailey trial following allegations of industrial espionage against rival company Europarks.
Part of an NCP-operated multi-storey car park in Nottingham collapsed on 19 August 2017, leaving vehicles hanging over the edge of the building; no injuries were reported.