Local authorities need to enforce the use of city consolidation centres and allow more night time deliveries into city centres if they are to create efficient supply chains, according to a report from JLL.

The More than the last mile report from the property and investment services firm examines how smarter logistics will help shape cities in the future.

It predicts rising demand for logistics facilities, as online retail and e-commerce continues to grow.

These facilities should include shared-user consolidation centres, transshipment facilities, where goods are transferred to environmentally friendly vehicles; centralised click and collect facilities, last mile fulfilment centres; and multi-storey buildings and underground warehouses, the report said.

The report argues that intelligent transport systems are still a distant possibility for most cities, better use of old technologies should be applied.

It calls for local authorities to promote the use of city consolidation centres and shared consolidation centres “through appropriate regulations and incentives”.

The report also says there is a “strong case” for lifting night-time restrictions on city deliveries to allow for increased night-time deliveries. This would make more effective use of the transport network at times when it has capacity.

The report warns against placing warehouses and logistics hubs too far out of city centres arguing this will drive up the distance from warehouse to customers and increase emissions.

JLL head of EMEA Industrial and logistics Guy Gueirard said a more holistic view needs to be adopted if cities are to create efficient supply chains.

“To understand the challenges of logistics in cities and the potential opportunities for change, we need to take a wider supply chain perspective that looks beyond cities,” he said.

Topics