A transport technology company has secured £705,000 to accelerate the development and commercial rollout of its AI-powered platform for tolling, parking and transport operations.
Sunderland’s Land Digital has received £500,000 from Northstar Ventures’ Venture Sunderland Fund, £180,000 from Creative England and a further £25,000 from business angels.
The company will use the funding to develop its platform and expand its team as it targets the tolling and airport parking markets. UK airport parking revenues alone are estimated to be worth £2.1bn annually.
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Land Digital’s technology enables transport operators to replace traditional barrier-controlled systems with barrier-free alternatives. Its platform combines Automatic Number Plate Recognition, data processing and AI to optimise pricing and support operational decision-making.
The Sunderland business says the technology can help operators improve traffic flow and compliance, reduce manual processes and enhance the customer experience. Removing barriers can also reduce the emissions associated with stop-start traffic.
Its configurable back-office platform is designed to be deployed more quickly and flexibly than traditional transport management systems.
The technology already supports open-road tolling operations including the Tyne Tunnel, which handles around 17 million journeys annually, and Warburton Bridge. It has also been adopted for parking operations at London Southend Airport.
Land Digital has evolved from a consultancy-led model into a product-led technology business. Its board includes chairman Julian Leighton, founder of former Northstar Ventures investee OrangeBus, and non-executive director Mark Pegler, the former managing director of ParkVia.
Jon Leighton, founder and MD of 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.”
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.”
