Norton Road car park in Hove is expected to close within 12 months and be demolished. In December, Cabinet will look at options including a new car park.

Norton Road car park in Hove is expected to close permanently within the next 12 months, with demolition to follow. Brighton & Hove City Council says the 1970s multi-storey is approaching the end of its operational life.

The council announced the plan today. It says no decision has been taken and the car park remains safe to use. No closure date has been set.

Closure is subject to the council’s decision-making process, and demolition is subject to planning permission. Cabinet will discuss the options in December, according to the council’s project page. The council’s calendar shows Cabinet meeting on 10 December.

A new car park is the favoured option

The council says the strongest option at this stage is a new, modern car park on the same site. Housing has been looked at and largely set aside. Its assessments found housing would not be good long-term value, because of the size of the site and planning constraints on what could be built.

Councillor Trevor Muten, the Cabinet member for transport, said: “At this stage, replacing the existing facility with a modern car park appears to be the strongest option.”

He added: “However, all options remain on the table, and we’ll consider them all before any final decision is made.”

The council has given no cost for a replacement. It says a report with options, costs and recommendations is expected to go to Cabinet before the end of the year.

The car park has already shrunk

This is the second time in 18 months that the building’s condition has affected drivers. In May 2025 the council cut the number of bays from 290 to 180. It said at the time the changes were being made “to reduce the capacity and the structural load on the car park”.

The council’s car park listing now gives 152 spaces. Today’s announcement still describes “hundreds of parking spaces”, and Cllr Muten says thousands of people use the car park every week.

Specialist structural engineers review the building every month. The council says “appropriate action will be taken” if an inspection finds it is no longer safe to operate.

What it means for you

Nothing changes today, and you can keep parking there. If the closure goes ahead, the council’s project page says:

  • Notice: users will get advance notice of the closure date so they can move their vehicles. Removal and storage costs may be charged for any vehicle left behind.
  • Permits and season tickets: these will stop being valid after the closure date. The council says it will contact holders directly about refunds.
  • How long it will last: the council does not know yet. It expects this to become clearer after the December decision.
  • Norton Road itself: the council does not yet know whether access to the road will be restricted during the works.
  • Consultation: whether there is a public consultation, and on what, depends on the Cabinet decision.

The council names King Alfred and Regency Square as the nearby alternatives, along with on-street parking in central Hove. It is also considering extra on-street spaces, but has decided nothing.

Check the price before you switch. Norton Road is the cheapest council car park by the hour, at £1.60 for the first hour on a weekday. Blue Badge holders park free there and at King Alfred, but pay the normal tariff at Regency Square. Our Brighton parking guide has every tariff.

Questions go through the council’s parking services contact form. Choose “Car park enquiries”, then “Norton Road”, then “Norton Road project enquiry”.