Restoring Parking at County Square

Introduction 

County Square is one of Ashford’s key retail destinations, home to a wide range of national retailers, and located less than a mile from Ashford International station. Its two car parks offer 594 spaces across 373 and 221 bays respectively. 

In early 2026, County Square faced a serious disruption. Its long-standing parking operator, NCP, entered administration following a post-pandemic dip in demand. As NCP withdrew, the larger of the two car parks, the 373-space Car Park 1, closed entirely on 28 March, while Car Park 2 remained open but free of charge and unmanaged.  

The disruption came only months after 210 spaces were lost at the nearby Edinburgh Road site, tightening parking availability across the town centre at a time the centre could least afford it. Adding to the complexity, one of the four zones had only recently opened, meaning the site needed a system capable of managing a car park that was itself still settling into full operation. 

The Challenge 

With a major car park shut, one of its four zones only recently opened, and no clear reopening date, County Square needed an operator who could step in quickly, restore and restore operations at full capacity without compromising on fairness, and give shoppers and retailers confidence again. The priorities were: 

• Reopen the closed car park as quickly as possible, minimising disruption to footfall and trade. 

• Introduce clear, transparent pricing from day one, replacing the uncertainty left by the previous operator’s exit. 

• Offer modern, flexible payment options that removed reliance on cash and outdated machines. 

• Rebuild trust with a community that had spent over a month without a reliable parking solution. 

• Inform and advise tenants and drivers on how to save with promotions. 

The Results 

Speed of reopening

Hozah took over management of both car parks at County Square, delivering a full ANPR-based takeover across two sites and four zones in just 16 days.

Driver experience

Drivers can now pay in three ways: Hozah PayByWeb, via QR codes displayed on-site signage; contactless card payment at the machines; and Hozah AutoPay, which automatically bills the vehicle on exit for regular users. An Early Bird rate of £5.00 was introduced for arrivals between 07:00 and 09:00, rewarding early shoppers and commuters with a lower rate. Clear signage across the Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow zones helps drivers keep track of where they’ve parked, reducing confusion across a site with 594 spaces. 

Parking control and compliance

ANPR technology was deployed across both car parks, putting accurate, camera-based enforcement in place from day one rather than relying on the manual processes the previous operator had struggled with. 

Community confidence 

To support the transition, the Hozah team was on-site at launch, running sessions with both drivers and tenants to explain how the new system worked and answer questions in person. A big thank you goes to County Square’s tenants, who were incredibly friendly and who supported the transition by distributing information to shoppers and staff. 

Ongoing Support and Reporting 

Hozah continues to manage County Square’s car parks with real-time reporting through the Hozah Console, giving full visibility over revenue, compliance, and driver activity. Regular reviews with the shopping centre’s management team ensure the system keeps pace with footfall patterns and seasonal demand, with dedicated support on hand for any driver queries.

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