Trade groups: make transport a planning priority
Organisations representing the road transport sector have responded to a government consultation on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which closed last month.
The NPPF sets out the government’s approach in England to planning – a topic of increased scrutiny from the transport sector in recent years due to a national shortage of truck parking facilities.
In its consultation document, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government acknowledged that the freight and logistics sector was: “fundamental to the UK’s economic growth and productivity [and] depends upon a national network of storage and distribution infrastructure to enable local, regional, national and international operations.”
It said its proposals for changes to the NPPF aimed to: “support the growth of the freight and logistics sector by encouraging decarbonisation, adaptation to changing patterns of global trade, and adoption of new and emerging technologies across its transport, distribution and storage operations.”
James Barwise, policy lead at the Road Haulage Association, said: “We are pleased that the freight and logistics sectors have finally been acknowledged in the draft of the new NPPF as playing a vital role in a modern economy.
“But we would like to see more detail about how our industry can be supported on green infrastructure, lorry parking, warehouses, distribution centres and provision for coaches.”
On decarbonisation, said RHA, there should be a presumption to approve planning for renewable and low-carbon developments, including those providing green infrastructure for HGVs and coaches.
The association said that the sector would be key to helping the government deliver on its housebuilding mission, and also emphasised the need for more public transport provision as communities grow, including coaches.
Said Mr Barwise: “We also call for lorry parking provision to have stronger representation in parts of the updated framework to ensure it is a consideration in more planning applications.”
Jonathan Walker, head of infrastructure and planning policy at Logistics UK, said: “It is vital that the development of a National Freight Network is actioned… 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.”
A lack of consistency in planning was a major area of concern for the sector, he added.
“National and local planning need to operate together, not in isolation, if real changes are to be made…
“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.”