Unity5: 12 Ways That Councils Are Using Digital Permit Software To Revitalise Town And City Centres

Urban revival: How Digital Permit Software is revitalising our town and city centres

In the ongoing effort to breathe new life into our high streets, Local Authorities are increasingly adopting innovative tools like modern digital permit software to meet modern challenges. The decline in footfall, driven by the rise of e-commerce and changing work patterns, has put immense pressure on councils to make town centres more attractive, accessible, and economically vibrant. The solution lies not just in aesthetic improvements but in smarter, more flexible management of the space itself. This is where technology steps in, transforming outdated, paper-based systems into dynamic, responsive ecosystems that benefit residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

From paper to digital: The core shift

For decades, permit management for parking, traders, and residents has been a cumbersome process for Local Authorities. It involved paper applications, manual processing, physical permits, and inefficient enforcement, leading to high administrative costs and a poor user experience. The transition to a unified digital permit software platform marks a fundamental shift. It moves the entire process online, creating a single source of truth that is accessible, automated, and rich with data. This technological foundation is enabling councils to implement a wide range of strategies to revitalise their urban spaces.

1. Flexible and dynamic parking solutions

A one-size-fits-all approach to parking no longer works. Digital permit software like Zatpermit, allows councils to create nuanced parking schemes that cater to different user needs. This includes short-stay permits for shoppers, long-stay options for commuters, and dedicated zones for residents, all easily managed through a digital interface.

2. Streamlined residential parking schemes

Residential parking schemes can be a source of constant frustration for locals. Digital systems empower residents to apply for, renew, and manage their permits online in minutes, available at the point of demand 24/7. By implementing customisable auto-approval rules, visitor permits can be activated instantly via a web portal or mobile app. This delivers a significant increase in efficiency, improves convenience, and greatly reduces the administrative burden on your staff.

3. Supporting local trade and business
Facilitating easy access for traders and delivery vehicles is crucial for a thriving local economy. With a digital permit software, councils can issue, or automate the issuing of temporary digital permits for tradespeople working in restricted zones or for delivery drivers servicing local businesses. This ensures that commerce can flow smoothly without causing unnecessary congestion or administrative headaches.

4. Efficient management of markets and events
Town centres thrive on events, from weekly markets to seasonal festivals. A truly efficient approach requires managing not just vehicle access, but all related street trading activity. Our digital platform simplifies this entire process, handling trader’s licences and ‘tables and chairs’ permits alongside vehicle access for stallholders. Permits can be issued for specific dates and times, linked to businesses or vehicle registrations, and enforced seamlessly using integrated mobile tools like the Zatpark Mobile App. This ensures designated areas are managed effectively and remain clear for pedestrians.

5. Optimising loading and unloading bays
Congestion from delivery vehicles is a common problem. A digital permit software solution can be used to manage loading bays more effectively. Businesses can book time slots, and permits can be issued digitally to specific vehicles, ensuring high turnover and preventing bays from being blocked for extended periods.

6. Implementing Clean Air and Low Emission Zones
As environmental targets become a priority, many councils are introducing Low Emission Zones (LEZs) or Clean Air Zones (CAZs). Digital permit software is the backbone of these initiatives, managing the complex mix of exemptions required, from residents and compliant vehicles to essential services like utility fleets and delivery vehicles, while integrating with enforcement systems to ensure compliance.

7. Protecting disabled parking (Blue Badge)
Digital systems can help protect designated disabled parking bays from misuse. By integrating Blue Badge data, enforcement officers can quickly verify a vehicle’s right to park in a specific bay, ensuring these vital spaces are available for those who genuinely need them.

8. Managing electric vehicle (EV) charging bays
With the rise of EVs, managing charging bays requires a powerful, integrated solution. Our digital permit software works seamlessly with our enforcement platform, Zatpark, to ensure these bays are used correctly.

By creating a digital ‘permit’ for each authorised charging session, the system allows your enforcement officers to easily identify and issue a PCN to non-EVs parking (‘ICEing’) or vehicles that overstay once charging is complete. This ensures your valuable charging bays remain available for drivers who need them.

9. Data-driven urban planning
Perhaps one of the most powerful benefits is the data. Digital permit software like Zatpermit provides invaluable insights into how a town centre is being used. Analytics on parking duration, peak times, and permit types allow planners to make informed decisions about infrastructure, traffic flow, and future development, ensuring changes are based on real-world behaviour.

10. Improving enforcement efficiency
Digital permits are intrinsically linked to modern enforcement. When a permit is issued, it exists in a central system that enforcement officers can access in real-time via handheld devices. This removes ambiguity, reduces disputes, and makes the entire enforcement process faster and more accurate.

11. Supporting carbon reduction with emission-based permits
Meeting carbon reduction targets is a key strategic priority for councils across the UK. A digital permit system is a powerful tool to actively support this goal by implementing emission-based charging for services like residents’ parking.

By integrating with national vehicle databases, the system can automatically retrieve the registered CO2 emissions data for any vehicle. This allows you to create a tiered and automated pricing structure:

• Higher-emission vehicles (e.g., older diesel models) are charged a higher rate for their permits.
• Lower-emission vehicles, hybrids, and Electric Vehicles (EVs) are charged a significantly lower rate, or may even receive their permits for free.

This creates a clear and fair financial incentive for residents and businesses to switch to cleaner vehicles. It directly translates environmental policy into practical action, helping to improve local air quality and deliver on the council’s crucial carbon reduction commitments in a manageable and efficient way.

12. Efficient self-service for users and staff
An intuitive, 24/7 self-service portal allows the public to easily apply for, manage, and pay for permits online, vastly improving their experience. For the back-office, this automation removes the burden of manual data entry and processing. With workflows handling most applications automatically, your staff are freed from repetitive tasks to focus on complex cases, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective service.

Conclusion

The revitalisation of UK town and city centres is a complex challenge, but it is far from an impossible one. By moving away from legacy systems and embracing the flexibility, efficiency, and intelligence of digital permit software, local authorities can do more than just manage parking and access. They can create dynamic, responsive, and welcoming environments that support local businesses, please residents, and attract visitors. This solution is no longer just an administrative tool; it is a strategic asset in the essential mission of building the vibrant, thriving town centres of the future.

Interested in seeing how a modern, flexible approach to permits can help you achieve your urban renewal goals? Our powerful digital permit software, Zatpermit, provides the control and insight your council needs. Book a no-obligation demo with our friendly experts or download the Zatpermit datasheet to learn more.