If the country’s logistics industry is to provide the economy with the productivity and profitability boosts it is capable of driving, it is imperative that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is strengthened to recognise the needs of the sector which underpins all economic activity, according to business group Logistics UK.
As the government’s consultation on the NPPF closed, Jonathan Walker, Head of Infrastructure and Planning Policy at Logistics UK, says member businesses are urging government to take bold steps in how it views planning in the future, to make significant investment in infrastructure possible and change the way that projects are implemented moving forwards.
“If the government is serious about its stated commitment to get the country moving again, it is vital that the development of a National Freight Network is actioned, as committed to in the Future of Freight, the previous government’s policy commitment. This would identify the key routes and hubs for freight movements and establish how the transport and energy infrastructure must be developed and adapted to ensure the logistics sector can decarbonise effectively, and at pace.”
As Walker continues, one of the biggest areas of concern for the sector is a lack of consistency in planning, something which the sector needs if real changes are to be made in the way the country’s transport and logistics systems operate.
“National and local planning need to operate together, not in isolation, if real changes are to be made to the way goods move across the country and across its borders,” he says. “Planning for logistics should be front and centre of every development – from constructing new freight terminals to expanding the provision of lorry parking nationwide – and the services needed to support these projects should be considered holistically, not on a piecemeal basis which can lead to delays, confusion and frustration.
“The NPPF needs to be bold – and while it is positive that the government has increased the recognition of logistics in the revised NPPF, some of the recommendations do not go far enough if genuine change is to be created to benefit businesses and households nationwide. Logistics UK’s members are at the heart of all activity in the economy and stand ready to provide advice and assistance to government to ensure that the new Framework is fit for purpose, not just in the short term but also to help drive longer-term change to the way the nation’s economy grows and thrives. We believe that effective logistics is the key which could unlock real benefits for the nation.”
