Logistic and transport bodies have welcomed the draft framework which is set to improve the movement of goods around the UK.
The policy (known as E3) aims to encourage more strategic planning for the sector (e.g. the development of sites next to transport links) and support improved infrastructure, including better grid connections, the provision of electric vehicle chargers, and sufficient and secure lorry parking, among other things.
The purpose of the NPPF is to set out the rules for local authorities, with this move meaning previously barriers for logistics and freight will be removed.
“Planning permission for new development can often take a very long amount of time to approve and can often be subject to a lot of local hostility,” explains Ben Fletcher, chief executive of Logistics UK – the umbrella trade association for the UK’s domestic and international supply chain.
“Generally speaking, people don’t like people to build things in this country and that’s been a real obstacle to growth.”
But what this should do is allow local authorities to balance views of residents against what government is setting as a priority. In other words, it should be much easier to build - and to build logically.
“This creates a more level playing field that I think will be of benefit to the food and drink industry, to manufacturing more widely, and from my perspective, the logistics industry that plays such a central part in allowing the food and drink industry to grow.”
The introduction of this policy sets a new precedent for planning in the UK, with previous iterations of the NPFF having focused on the constituent elements of either housing or industry.
But as Fletcher outlines, we’re dealing with “a much more complicated” supply chain today, with Covid, Brexit, and geopolitical instability all highlighting the need for change.
Sue Terpilowski, chair of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK’s Public Policy Committee, agrees the dedicated policy is a much-needed shift in the right direction.
“For an industry that underpins virtually every part of the economy, freight has historically had a surprisingly uncomfortable relationship with the planning system,” she said.
“Too often the starting point has been the impacts that need to be mitigated rather than the essential economic and social function freight performs.”
Fit for modern freight
Importantly, the new freight and logistics policy hasn’t been siloed from the rest of the framework, as Terpilowski notes: “Read alongside the new policies on economic development, electricity networks and low-carbon energy, the Framework begins to reflect rather better how modern freight networks actually work.”
In addition, the draft framework also covers road user safety and driver welfare, ensuring drivers have access to the facilities they need such as EV charging, alternative fuels and lorry parking.
We want our drivers in this country to be looked after, to be safe, to be secure.
Ben Fletcher, chief executive, Logistics UK
“We have seen a substantial increase in vehicle crime and the theft from vehicles and theft of freight – and part of that is because we haven’t given planning permission for logistics hubs and we haven’t given planning permission for places where HGVs and other large vehicles can park for long periods. And when you compare us to the rest of Europe, we lag a long way behind.
“If we want to attract more drivers into the industry, if we want to be able to move stuff safely and without having to pay very high insurance premiums because of the rise in freight crime, then having more of those safe and secure vehicle parks, allowing some of the existing parks to expand is really critical.”
But Policy E3 isn’t just about around recognising how supply chains and its workforce can be better supported, it’s also a way to stimulate economic growth in the UK.
For Fletcher, the Government recognising that the supply chain is a key part of delivering this is “a really big step” for everyone in logistics and manufacturing.
“Government is putting money into things like advanced manufacturing […] But if you can’t get the component parts, the constituent raw materials into your factory, and if you can’t get the product out of your factory to your customer, that’s a wasted investment.”
He adds that the draft text is “a very positive start”, but it’ll be a while yet till we see it come into full fruition.
“What I very much hope, though, is it encourages developers to move forward with confidence,” he continues.
“It’s been a really challenging couple of years and the first six months of this year with the war in the Gulf has made that investment situation and investment confidence pretty fragile. This is a good way of rebuilding that and we strongly welcome it from that perspective.”
