The industry has reacted with optimism to the government’s new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which for the first time recognises the importance of logistics developments to the economy.
The overhaul of the planning system made clear that planning policies should pay particular regard to helping develop the economy, “including by identifying suitable locations for uses such as laboratories, gigafactories, data centres, digital infrastructure, freight and logistics”.
Logistics UK urged planners to understand that the logistics sector was vital to the delivery of all new housing:
“The government’s instruction to planners to support the economy by identifying suitable locations for freight and logistics is a significant step forward for our sector,” said Jonathan Walker, Logistics UK’s head of infrastructure and planning policy.
“It is also good news that the updated NPPF calls for local planners to have regard to industries of national importance and national industrial strategy, to support economic growth.
“As new houses are delivered, planners must ensure that they have the supportive systems that they need to be part of sustainable communities. This includes enabling the logistics sector to provide the facilities required to serve homes, as well as hospitals, offices and schools, with the goods they need, when they need them.
“For too long logistics has been an afterthought in the planning system, so today’s announcement will help our sector play a greater part in rebuilding the economy.”
The RHA welcomed the improvements to the NPPF, but it added that it remained concerned that ministers had still not gone far enough to meet the needs of the industry:
“Throughout the summer, we engaged with government to highlight the problems that exist within the NPPF around land for logistics usage, lorry parking, as well as the need for green infrastructure,” said RHA MD Richard Smith. “This work will continue.
“Looking ahead to 2025, we look forward to future opportunities to engage further to future-proof Britain’s freight industries, keep the supply-chain moving and deliver on the government’s stated objective of delivering economic growth.”
