The Trafford Centre has become the latest large shopping centre to introduce a paid-for parking service into part of its car park.
The new Premium Parking offering at The Trafford Centre is due to launch on 27th November, to coincide with the start of the busy Christmas shopping period.
Visitors will be able to park in a number of designated, larger spaces (5m x 3m) in a convenient central location, with tariffs of up to £7 per hour at peak times.
The Trafford Centre Premium Parking is located at the Upper Peel Car Park 5, next to Selfridges.
Additional services available include valet parking and car cleaning – with visitors able to book in advance or turn up and pay on the day.
Customers who choose valet parking (£25) or car cleaning services, will pay a flat fee which comes with a full day’s parking included in the price, depending on which service they choose.
Free-of-charge car parking will remain across the rest of the centre’s 18 car parks, which means 11,500 spaces available with no fee.
A spokesperson for The Trafford Centre said: “We have always been incredibly proud of the centre’s vast free parking offering, and this will continue.
“The new initiative is intended to offer added value for those who choose to use it and will have no impact on those who wish to continue parking for free.”
But how does the new “posh parking” stack up compared to others?
Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet in Ellesmere Port has been offering paid-for parking for a number of years now, but their service comes with number of added perks.
For a flat fee of £7.50 visitors can park in a space next to Cheshire Oaks’ luxury stores and will receive special offers as well as a discount of 10% in some outlet stores.
At Cheshire Oaks, those using premium parking can also enjoy hands-free shopping, where customers items are stored securely after purchase and carried to their car when they’re ready to leave.
While The Trafford Centre’s scheme offers none of these benefits, bosses will be hoping the allure of more convenient parking next to their sprawling mall is a privilege worth paying for.
The full price list for Premium Parking at The Trafford Centre is as follows:
| DURATION | WEEKDAY | WEEKEND |
| Up to 1 hr | £4 | £7 |
| Up to 2 hrs | £8 | £12 |
| Up to 3 hrs | £10 | £15 |
| Up to 6 hrs | £12 | £18 |
| Up to 12 hrs | £14 | £21 |
