The Department for Infrastructure plans to reduce its stock of on-street pay and display machines in Northern Ireland from 279 to about 150 over the next year.

The department said the current machines have reached the end of their working life. Some underused machines will be removed and others relocated to areas with higher demand. Certain meters will be upgraded to a pay-by-plate system that uses automatic number plate recognition. Drivers using those machines will need to enter their vehicle registration when paying with cash or card, or pay through a mobile app.

Just over half of all parking transactions, representing about 70 percent of parking income, are now made through digital payments such as smartphone apps.

A survey of 700 motorists across Northern Ireland by price comparison website CompareNI.com found that 62 percent oppose the planned changes. When asked their preferred payment method, 68 percent chose pay and display and 30 percent chose mobile apps or other ticketless systems.

The survey also found that 67 percent of respondents do not feel confident using cashless parking apps, and 45 percent said they have experienced problems when using a mobile app to pay for parking. More than four in five drivers, 82 percent, said they fear reducing the number of pay and display machines will make parking more difficult for older drivers.

Ian Wilson, a car insurance expert and managing director at CompareNI.com, said that while digital payments are growing, two out of three drivers still prefer pay and display. He said upgraded machines will continue to accept coins, but cutting the number of meters raises concerns about drivers who are not comfortable with technology such as mobile apps or number plate recognition, particularly pensioners. He added that modernising the parking network is sensible if accessibility is not lost.

The Department for Infrastructure acknowledged that reducing and relocating parking machines could affect accessibility. It said the placement of remaining machines will be based on footfall and street layout, with clear signage directing drivers to the nearest location and upgraded meters having better visibility.

Work in Belfast is expected to finish by autumn this year. Lisburn is scheduled for mid-2027, and Newry for autumn next year.