Hillingdon Hospital parking is about to change completely. A construction contract was signed in July 2026 to build an entirely new hospital next to the current one. It includes a brand-new car park with nearly 1,000 spaces. Here’s what’s changing, when, and everything you need to know about parking at the hospital right now.
The big story: a new hospital, and a new car park
In July 2026, The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust signed a construction contract with Laing O’Rourke. The deal covers a full rebuild of Hillingdon Hospital, built next to the current site.
Trust chief executive Lesley Watts called it “an important step forward in our journey to deliver a new hospital for our patients, staff and local communities.” It’s part of the government’s New Hospital Programme, one of the UK’s biggest healthcare building projects.
So what does this mean for parking? Quite a lot, actually.
Nearly 1,000 parking spaces, and a proper multi-storey
The new hospital will have a multi-storey car park linked directly into the building. It’s designed to hold around 780 dedicated spaces.
On top of that, 150 surface-level spaces will stay east of the building. That’s roughly 930 spaces in total once everything’s finished.
This matters because parking at the current hospital is genuinely limited. The trust’s own guidance already tells visitors to expect a squeeze and to consider public transport instead.
More disabled spaces, and new bus stops too
The redevelopment isn’t just about total numbers. It specifically promises more disabled parking than the current site offers.
New bus stops are also planned, on Pield Heath Road and Colham Green Road. The trust is working with Transport for London and Hillingdon Council on wider transport links around the new site.
There’s also a “mobility hub” planned. It’ll include cycle storage, e-bikes, scooters, car club bays, electric vehicle charging points, and a live passenger information display.
When will this actually happen?
Here’s the honest answer: an exact opening date hasn’t been confirmed publicly yet. The contract was only signed in July 2026, so construction is still in its early stages.
What we do know is that full planning permission has already been granted. A dedicated contractor is now in place. So this is real, moving forward, not just a proposal on paper.
It’s worth checking the trust’s own redevelopment page for the latest timeline. These major projects can shift, and the trust says it will keep updating its own site as milestones are reached.
Parking at Hillingdon Hospital right now
While the new car park gets built, the current parking setup still applies. Here’s what you need to know today.
Free parking:
- The first 10 minutes are free
- Disabled spaces are free
- 20-minute drop-off points are free
- Motorcycle parking in the maternity car park is free (as long as it doesn’t obstruct)
Paying for longer stays: Charges apply on a graduated scale after the free period, with a capped rate for a full 12 to 24 hours. An extra charge applies if you go beyond 24 hours.
Concessions:
- Long-term visitors to patients can get a weekly rate of £12, or £25 for a month
- Cancer patients pay just £1 per visit
- Both need approval from a ward manager first
How to actually pay
The main car park and maternity car park use pay-on-foot barriers, which take notes. Other areas use pay-and-display machines instead.
You can also pay by phone. Hillingdon and Mount Vernon Hospitals both introduced PayByPhone as a cashless option, matching the same system used across the wider borough.
Where the car parks are
There are a few different parking areas at the current site. These include the main car park, the maternity car park, and parking at the rear of the hospital.
Space is genuinely tight, and only marked bays are allowed. The trust actively encourages public transport where it’s a practical option, given how limited on-site parking currently is.
Why this redevelopment matters beyond parking
It’s easy to focus on car parking, but the wider rebuild is a bigger deal. The new hospital will bring extra MRI and CT scanners, so imaging should be faster.
There’ll be dedicated spaces for children and young people too. Emergency care is also being expanded, bringing specialist services and scanning together in one place.
Urgent care and outpatient services will move to lower floors. That’s designed to make the hospital easier to access, especially for anyone with mobility needs — tying directly into the extra disabled parking planned outside.
What to do if you’re visiting soon
If you’ve got an appointment before the new hospital opens, plan around the current, limited parking. Arrive early where you can, since spaces do fill up.
Check whether you qualify for a concession rate if you’re a long-term or frequent visitor. And if public transport is realistic for your journey, it’s worth genuinely considering it, given how stretched current parking already is.
The New Hospital Programme, in brief
It’s worth knowing what this project actually sits inside. The New Hospital Programme is a government scheme to rebuild or renew hospitals across England.
It’s one of the largest healthcare infrastructure efforts the country has seen. Hillingdon is one of the sites included, alongside a wider list of hospitals scheduled for major building work.
That context matters for parking specifically. A scheme this size tends to come with proper investment in infrastructure around the building, not just the building itself. New bus stops, a mobility hub, and nearly 1,000 parking spaces all fit that pattern.
Avoiding a wasted trip today
Until the new car park exists, a few practical habits genuinely help. Arriving with extra time built in is the simplest one, especially for a booked appointment you can’t easily rearrange.
It’s also worth checking the trust’s own travel page before you set off. Advice can change, particularly around specific car parks closing temporarily for resurfacing or other works during the build.
And if you’re a regular visitor, ask your ward about concession rates early. It’s a straightforward way to cut costs across a longer hospital stay, rather than paying full price every single visit.
A car park worth watching
For anyone who’s circled the current car park looking for a space, or paid a fee reluctantly on the way to an appointment, this is genuinely good news on the horizon. Nearly 1,000 spaces, more disabled bays, and better bus links are a real upgrade on what’s there today.
It won’t happen overnight. But with a contractor now signed and planning permission secured, this has moved from a proposal to an actual building project — worth keeping an eye on if you’re a regular visitor to the hospital.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hillingdon Hospital getting a new car park? Yes. As part of the hospital’s full redevelopment, a new multi-storey car park is planned, offering around 780 dedicated spaces plus 150 surface spaces — roughly 930 in total.
When will the new Hillingdon Hospital car park open? No exact date has been confirmed publicly. The construction contract was signed in July 2026, and full planning permission is already in place, but the trust hasn’t announced a completion date yet.
How much does parking cost at Hillingdon Hospital now? The first 10 minutes are free, along with disabled spaces and 20-minute drop-off points. Longer stays are charged on a graduated scale, with a capped rate for 12 to 24 hours.
Is there disabled parking at Hillingdon Hospital? Yes, and it’s currently free. The new redevelopment specifically promises more disabled spaces than the current site offers.
Can I pay for parking by phone at Hillingdon Hospital? Yes. PayByPhone was introduced as a cashless payment option at both Hillingdon and Mount Vernon hospitals.
Are there parking discounts for regular hospital visitors? Yes. Long-term patient visitors can get a weekly rate of £12 or a monthly rate of £25, and cancer patients pay just £1 per visit. Both need approval from a ward manager.
Who is building the new Hillingdon Hospital? Laing O’Rourke, after signing a construction contract with The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in July 2026, as part of the government’s New Hospital Programme.
Will there be new bus stops near the new hospital? Yes. New bus stops are planned on Pield Heath Road and Colham Green Road, alongside wider public transport improvements being developed with Transport for London and Hillingdon Council.
Is the current Hillingdon Hospital car park closing during construction? No confirmed closure date has been announced. Construction is being built on land next to the existing hospital, so current parking should stay in use for now, but it’s worth checking the trust’s travel page for any short-term changes as work progresses.
What other improvements is the new Hillingdon Hospital bringing? Beyond parking, the rebuild includes extra MRI and CT scanners, dedicated children’s and young people’s spaces, expanded emergency care, and lower-floor placement of urgent care and outpatient services for easier access.
More local Hillingdon coverage from Hillingdon News, including Hillingdon Health Centre and the Hillingdon GUM clinic.