Solar Powered Digital Postboxes Coming to Chiswick
At least two local sites scheduled for conversion
A postbox on the corner of Ashbourne Grove and Devonshire Road is being prepared for conversion
December 30, 2025
Following an announcement back in August of plans to introduce 3,500 parcel friendly digital postboxes, the Royal Mail is starting the process of converting sites in Chiswick.
The new ‘postboxes of the future’ represent the first major redesign for 175 years with the solar powered units having a drop-down drawer which can accommodate relatively large parcels. It will not be necessary to remove the classic design of postbox to accommodate the new technology.
Trials have already taken place in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire with installations taking place in other cities such as Edinburgh and Manchester.
The first Chiswick sites to have been spotted are on Edensor Road and Devonshire Road at the junction with Ashbourne Grove and these boxes have been temporarily taken out of service.
To post a package you scan a bar code in the Royal Mail app to open the draw for any parcel to large to fit through the letter slot which will continue to be available.
Proof of posting and parcel tracking is available through the app which will enable the return of online purchases.
The new style of postboxes being introduced. Picture: Royal Mail
Jack Clarkson, managing director of out-of-home and commercial excellence at Royal Mail, said at the time of the initial launch,“We are all sending and returning more parcels than ever before.
“This trend will only continue as online shopping shows no signs of slowing, particularly with the boom of second-hand marketplaces.”
The Royal Mail currently plans to convert under 4% of the 115,000 postboxes in the UK. The new boxes will supplement 23,500 existing parcel points including lockers, Collect+ stores, Post Office branches, Royal Mail customer service points and existing conventional parcel postboxes.
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