City centre car park stands open despite closure, with mounting safety and legal questions
Drivers are continuing to access the closed Belgrade Plaza multi-storey in Coventry city centre more than two months after operations ceased, with the site showing signs of vandalism and reported drug use. The situation has prompted Coventry City Council to press the private leaseholder over security and to seek legal advice on potential enforcement action.
The car park, formerly run by National Car Parks (NCP), shut its doors on 16 April 2026 following the company’s collapse in March. Yet an on-site visit by the BBC found no barriers blocking entry, vehicles parked in bays, damaged payment machines and litter strewn across circulation areas.
| Key details | Belgrade Plaza car park |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1,100 spaces |
| Previous operator | NCP (collapsed March 2026) |
| Closed to users | 16 April 2026 |
| Ownership (freehold) | Coventry City Council |
| Head leaseholder | Belgrade Plaza Estates Limited |
Photographs from inside the structure show vandalised ticket machines and corridors fouled by rubbish. There were also indications of drug use on site. Despite the deterioration, some motorists continue to leave their cars inside. One driver told the BBC he did not feel unsafe, but expressed shock at how quickly the facility had decayed.
“The council is aware of concerns about the security of the car park and has been pressing for this to be resolved.”
In a further statement, the authority said responsibility for the site’s security and safety sat with the head leaseholder, Belgrade Plaza Estates Limited, and the tenant, NCP, under existing lease agreements, which include health and safety obligations. It added it is now taking legal advice on its options, including possible enforcement action.
Who is responsible — and what happens next?
The freehold is held by the council, but the day-to-day management and compliance duties were tied to the leaseholder/tenant arrangements. With NCP in administration, the immediate questions are about securing the empty structure, preventing unauthorised access and clarifying who will carry out and fund remedial works. Administrators PwC have been appointed for NCP.
While the council has signalled a willingness to escalate matters, it has not set out a timetable for any intervention. For city centre businesses and visitors, the ongoing uncertainty is significant: the loss of a 1,100-space facility is a major gap in local parking supply at a time when footfall is critical to the retail and hospitality economy.
Public safety, nuisance and city centre impact
Beyond parking availability, there are immediate concerns about safety. An unstaffed, unsecured multi-storey risks anti-social behaviour, fire hazards from litter accumulation, and dangers to those entering a building without lighting, lifts maintenance or on-site supervision. The reports of drug paraphernalia add to worries for residents and businesses around Belgrade Plaza, including theatre-goers and diners using neighbouring venues.
For drivers, the message is clear: the car park is officially shut. Using the site carries risks — including potential enforcement once control measures are re-established — and leaves vehicles in an unmanaged environment. City centre visitors should use signed, open car parks and on-street bays that are in operation, and check the council’s website or on-street signage for current availability and tariffs.
Council under pressure to act
With the building in private hands through its leasehold structure, the council has limited immediate powers but does retain regulatory roles linked to public safety and environmental health. Legal options, including serving notices on those responsible under lease terms, are being explored. Any enforcement would need to balance swift action to protect the public with the complexities of an administration process and property law.
“Responsibility for the security and safety of the site sits with the head leaseholder, Belgrade Plaza Estates Limited, and the tenant, NCP, under the terms of their lease agreements, which include health and safety obligations. The council is now taking legal advice on the options available to it, including potential enforcement action.”
Until a secure closure is achieved — or a new operator brought in — residents can expect heightened scrutiny of the site. The episode underscores how the collapse of a major parking operator reverberates through local infrastructure, leaving councils to navigate a complex handover while keeping people safe.
- The Belgrade Plaza multi-storey remains closed to paying users but physically accessible.
- The council is pressing the leaseholder and taking legal advice on enforcement options.
- Drivers are urged to use officially open, staffed car parks elsewhere in the city centre.
