New jobs as Sunderland company secures £700k funding to expand number plate recognition parking
The company plans to use the funding to expand its team
A Sunderland based company has secure over £700,000 of funding to invest in its AI parking provision to remove the need for parking barriers and to reduce potential traffic bottle necks.
Land Digital, whose headquarters is based at the Dome in Mackies Corner, has secured the £705,000 of funding to accelerate its rollout of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) parking and tolls.
Land Digital currently provides number plate recognition technology for Tyne Tunnel (TT2), which handles around 17 million journeys per year, and Warburton Bridge. The technology has also been adopted for parking operations at London Southend Airport.
The demand for the technology is set to grow as transport operators are increasingly moving away from barrier-controlled systems which “create bottlenecks, frustrate motorists and constrain revenue collection”.
The company plan to use the funds to increase their portfolio of clients and to “expand its team to support growth in the market”.
Jon Leighton, founder and managing director at Land Digital, said: "Operators don't want more technology - they want less friction, for their customers and their back office. This investment lets us bring AI-driven efficiency to both, faster, whilst meeting demand from operators ready to move on from barrier-based systems."
The funding comprises a £500,000 investment from Northstar Ventures' Venture Sunderland Fund, as well as £25,000 from business angels and £180,000 from Creative England.
Naomi Allen Seales, investment manager at Northstar Ventures, said: "Land Digital has developed a genuinely differentiated software platform for transport infrastructure at a time when operators are increasingly looking to modernise legacy systems.
“The team combines deep sector expertise with strong technical capability and has demonstrated the ability to win and deliver contracts across both tolling and airport environments. We believe the business
has significant growth potential and we're delighted to support the next stage of its journey through the Venture Sunderland Fund."
Malcolm King, investment manager at Creative England, added: “We’re delighted to support the team at Land Digital through our Creative and Cultural Investment Programme (CCIP).
“The team has built an innovative platform that helps transport operators address key operational challenges, from reducing congestion to enhancing passenger experiences. As demand for smarter, more connected transport infrastructure continues to grow, Land Digital is well positioned for the future.
“We’re excited to back the team as they continue to deliver meaningful impact across the sector.”