Royal Mail to roll out 1,400 parcel postboxes across the UK
Royal Mail is to launch parcel postboxes across the UK following a successful trial last year.
The initiative marks the first major change in use for the UK postbox in the last 160 years and will include 1,400 parcel postboxes being rolled out across the country.
Royal Mail said the postboxes will enable small businesses and marketplace sellers to post pre-paid parcels in the same way that they currently post letters. They will also allow customers to post some barcoded returns parcels back at any time, seven days a week.
The postboxes will be introduced over a six month period starting in August. Royal Mail will use existing meter boxes for the service by converting them to include a wider aperture and a secure design.
Mark Street, head of campaigns at Royal Mail, said: “The wide scale introduction of parcel postboxes is one of the many ways we at Royal Mail are looking to make the lives of our customers easier. The parcel postboxes trial last year was a success, and we hope that the wider roll-out gives added flexibility to online sellers who might be running a business in their spare time and not keeping regular office hours.”
Places where the 1,400 parcel postboxes will be rolled out include:
- Leeds
- Newcastle & Tyneside
- Sheffield
- Warrington
- Swindon
- Nottingham
- Romford
- Manchester
- Preston
- London Central
- Birmingham
- Chelmsford
- Chester
- Greenford
- Glasgow
- Edinburgh
- Bristol
- Croydon
- Poole
- Aberdeen
