London Freight Plan

The success of London depends on the efficient movement of goods, services and people. London’s continued growth will increase in freight movement to construct, supply and service London’s economy sustainably in order to make a real and positive contribution to improving the lives of those who live, work and visit London.

The London Freight Plan supports this sustainable development by giving clear guidance and direction. It recognises the need to improve the efficiency of the freight sector whilst also reducing the environmental and social impacts of freight transport on London.

The Plan clearly identifies the key leading role that Transport for London (TfL) must play to ensure that improvements are made. However such ambitions cannot be delivered by TfL alone. Partnership is needed to help realise these initiatives.

So with the whole-hearted support of the boroughs and the freight industry, we can all help to make a real difference to the way in which freight activities can sustainably provide for the future needs of the Capital.

Approved by TfL’s Board in October 2007, the Plan was first published in January 2008 and it recognises the vital role that freight plays in maintaining London as a world class city. Keeping freight moving efficiently in London is not just vital for London’s economy but also for the UK economy.

This Plan deals with problems and challenges that are complex, not easy to solve and is the culmination of collaborative partnership working by the London Sustainable Distribution Partnership (LSDP), TfL, the London boroughs and a large number of businesses, freight operators, bodies and associations.

In brief, the Plan has four key projects which are now in various stages of ‘roll-out’ from strategy to practical reality. They are:

Employs a tiered set of membership levels to address fleet and freight vehicle operational efficiency, improving all areas of sustainable distribution to reduce CO2 emissions, congestion, collisions and operator costs. It recognises legal compliance as the base ‘bronze’ level and promotes the uptake of best practice covering fuel efficiency, alternative fuels and low carbon vehicles, management of road risk, legal record keeping and reducing penalty charge notices. The Scheme also recognises operator achievements with rewards that encourage operators to raise standards to reduce, in particular, CO2 emissions and collisions between heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and cyclists.

The project links with bespoke London training for drivers and managers through the London Freight Booster which leads to a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2. The Scheme’s main partners include the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), Learning and Skills Council (LSC), London Development Agency (LDA) and Skills for Logistics with additional support provided by the Department for Transport, Freight Transport Association (FTA) and Road Haulage Association (RHA).

Will be used to increase building operational efficiency by reducing delivery and servicing impacts to premises, specifically CO2 emissions, congestion and collisions.

DSPs aim to reduce delivery trips (particularly during peak periods) and increase availability and use of safe and legal loading facilities, using a range of approaches including consolidation and out-of-hours deliveries.

TfL and the GLA Group will take a lead in implementing DSPs for their own premises, with the boroughs following in due course. In parallel, DSPs will be linked to planning conditions for major new developments

Have similar objectives to DSPs, but are applied to the design and construction phases of premises. The aim is for TfL and the GLA Group to take a lead in implementing such plans for their construction projects. Traffic authorities will be encouraged to review delivery arrangements for construction sites so they can help to reduce lane closures, carriageway restrictions, and constructions’ duration.

Will offer London, for the first time, a single interface for freight information between London’s public authorities and freight operators. The Portal aims to reduce operators’ administrative costs and improve access to freight journey planning in the Capital, to support improved operational efficiency, to encourage better driver behaviour, the use of alternative fuels and low-carbon vehicles.

A range of systems and services are in the pipeline, including opportunities for FORS members to promote fleet and freight vehicle operational efficiency and uptake of best practice to reduce CO2 emissions and improve safety.

Click here for full details of the Plan, key projects and challenges facing London...