Planners must consider truck parking in industrial areas

Planners should consider truck parking facilities before approving planning applications for industrial sites, the government has said.

New guidelines included in the latest updated National Planning Policy Framework by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government state: “Planning policies and decisions should recognise the importance of providing adequate overnight lorry parking facilities, taking into account any local shortages, to reduce the risk of parking in locations that lack proper facilities or could cause a nuisance.

“Proposals for new or expanded distribution centres should make provision for sufficient lorry parking to cater for their anticipated use.”

Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett said that prolonged campaigning by the organisation had paid off.

“It’s a victory for common sense. We’re pleased that the government has listened and recommended that lorry parking should be considered in distribution centre planning applications.

“Thousands of truckers are still left to park in unsecure areas every night without basic amenities because there’s nowhere else for them to go.

“We want to see local authorities working to this framework and doing all they can to provide the facilities truckers deserve.”