Royal Mail launches UK's first parcel postboxes in battle against couriers after Post Office announces closure of 2,500 branches over next 12 months

  • First ever parcel postboxes set to launch later this year, Royal Mail confirmed 
  • It follows a trial across the East Midlands in Northampton and Leicester 
  • Set to be dotted in locations including Birmingham, Leeds and Aberdeen 

By SEBASTIAN MURPHY-BATES FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Royal Mail is launching the UK's first ever parcel postboxes in its battle against private couriers.

The move follows a successful trial, making the first major change in the use of postboxes in 160 years, and comes after news of 2,500 potential Post Office closures.

Small businesses and other sellers will be able to post pre-paid parcels in the same way they currently send letters. Customers will also be able to return packages using the new boxes, providing they have the required barcode.

Pictured: One the UK's very first parcel postboxes.  The shift marks the first change to the postbox in 160 years

Pictured: One the UK's very first parcel postboxes.  The shift marks the first change to the postbox in 160 years 

The parcel postboxes are being introduced later this year in locations across the country including Birmingham, Leeds, Aberdeen and Cardiff.

The Post Office was last night said to be 'beyond tipping point' following news of Government funding cuts.  

Up to 2,500 small post offices will close or downsize in the next 12 months because of financial hardship, says the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters.

Post offices have seen income from Government services fall from £576million in 2004-05 to £99million in 2017-18.

Most close because the sub-postmaster, the private business people running smaller branches, can no longer make a living.

The association is calling on the Government to extend the subsidy to the post office network beyond 2021 to protect village branches.

The NFSP claim that without the subsidy the network would not be able to survive and 3,000 'community' branches, typically in rural areas, will be at risk.

Banks axed more than 750 of their branches last year, leaving post offices as a vital service, especially for older customers in rural communities.

The vast majority of post offices, about 98 per cent, are operated by franchise partners or sub-postmasters, who are independent business people. Only Crown post offices are directly managed by the Post Office.

Up to 2,500 small post offices will close or downsize in the next 12 months because of financial hardship, says the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters

 Up to 2,500 small post offices will close or downsize in the next 12 months because of financial hardship, says the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters

The NFSP said: 'The viability of sub post offices and the morale of sub-postmasters has been eroded to the extent that the network's resilience is extremely limited. We believe a tipping point has been passed and the consequences of this are now being realised.

'Sub-postmasters are resigning in high numbers because it is increasingly difficult to make a decent living. The closure of 2,500 post offices in a year would be a catastrophic loss to communities.'

Mark Street, head of campaigns at Royal Mail, said of the parcel post boxes: 'The wide-scale introduction of parcel postboxes is one of the many ways we 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.'

Royal Mail said the boxes will be rolled out across the country from August. They were tested across the East Midlands in Northampton and Leicester.   

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