British consumers and businesses will be able to send and return parcels through thousands of postboxes in future as Royal Mail broadens its portfolio ahead of forthcoming changes to the UK’s postal USO.
The postal operator this week unveiled a modern makeover for its iconic red postboxes, including a solar-powered roof and an extra-large opening to accept parcels larger than packets that fit through a letterbox. Five of these ‘postboxes of the future’ are being piloted in the Ware, Hertford and Fowlmere areas before more are deployed across the country.
In total, there are 115,000 postboxes in the UK, located within half a mile of 98% of addresses, making them the UK’s largest parcel drop off network. They currently accept parcels that are small enough to fit through a letterbox, but thousands could be adapted to the new design to accept larger parcels.
New life for iconic postboxes
