Member News – 24 June 2026

24 June 2026

In this issue:

• Proposed amendments to the Draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement.
• DVSA confirms ATF pit fee increase from 6 July.
• Middle East impacts survey results and briefing.
• The Climate Change Committee (CCC) publishes its 2026 progress report.
• Update on the UK’s deforestation due diligence approach for GB and further information on the application of the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) in Northern Ireland.
• Changes to simplify and modernise the customs system.
• Logistics UK response to DESNZ call for evidence on flexible electrolytic hydrogen production.
• Change to updates of Logistics UK’s Clean Air Zone briefing note publications.

Proposed amendments to the Draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement

Last week, the Department for Transport published the Draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement: consultation on proposed amendments.

The draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement sets out the proposed planning framework against which any future application for development consent would be considered.

It reflects the government’s four tests for Heathrow expansion: economic growth, climate change, air quality and noise.

The proposed amendments also recognise the strategic importance of Heathrow expansion by designating development covered by the draft policy statement as Critical National Growth Infrastructure.

The government will consider all responses carefully before deciding whether to proceed with designation. Any final Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement will be published, laid before Parliament, and subject to a vote in the House of Commons before having legal effect.

The consultation closes on 1 September, and Logistics UK will be responding.

You can read the full details of the consultation here.

DVSA confirms ATF pit fee increase from 6 July

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is introducing changes to Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) charges, commonly referred to as pit fees, from 6 July 2026.

Details shared with Logistics UK and industry stakeholders indicate that the agency intends to proceed with revised maximum charges aligned with those outlined during its recent consultation. Formal communication to operators and ATFs has recently been announced here.

Following engagement with members, Logistics UK responded to the consultation, supporting the principle of increasing the maximum service charge that ATFs can make, while emphasising that any fee increases must be justified, transparent and subject to regular review.

The proposed new maximum pit fees are:

• HGV: £70 (up from £55)
• Trailer: £50 (up from £40)
• Bus and coach: £90 (up from £70)

Although a longer notice period had originally been anticipated, DVSA has indicated it is keen to move forward without further delay.

A formal contractual update is also expected to follow for ATF operators, as the current fee levels are specified within existing agreements.

Operators and ATFs should be aware of the forthcoming changes and prepare for implementation ahead of early July.

Middle East impacts survey results and briefing

Logistics UK has published its latest Middle East briefing, featuring new data from the June Middle East conflict impacts survey.

The findings show that logistics businesses continue to face sustained cost pressures, particularly from rising fuel prices, with over 60% of firms reporting increases in June.

This is affecting both SMEs and larger operators, with many encountering fuel card credit limits that are creating operational and cashflow challenges. Input costs beyond fuel have also risen, impacting 65.5% of respondents, while increased incidents of fuel theft are adding further disruption and expense.

More broadly, financial pressures are intensifying across the supply chain. Over one fifth of companies report longer customer payment times, while a third are experiencing delays in receiving key inputs. In response, businesses are adapting procurement strategies by holding higher stock levels and adjusting ordering patterns, while maintaining relative confidence in fuel availability despite ongoing price volatility. The full briefing can be viewed here.

Logistics UK continues to engage closely with government departments and Number 10 to ensure policymakers understand the impact on the sector and the actions needed to support resilience. Key priorities include maintaining a flexible approach to fuel duty in light of price pressures, formally recognising logistics as a priority fuel user in national resilience planning, and reducing operating costs through inclusion in the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme. We are also calling for continued support for decarbonisation and investment, including extending full expensing to leased zero emission vehicles, introducing targeted incentives for low carbon fuels, reforming forthcoming business rates changes that risk increasing costs for logistics operations, and providing longer-term certainty for mode shift grants to enable investment in alternative transport solutions.

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) publishes its 2026 progress report

The CCC has today published its 2026 progress report on the UK’s progress to net zero. The CCC is an independent, non-departmental body that advises the UK and devolved governments on emissions targets for decarbonising the UK economy. Generally, the CCC’s pathway for transport decarbonisation focuses on electrification, as published in their previous reports. Therefore, when looking at progress in transport decarbonisation, the CCC focuses on the uptake of electric vehicles.

Transport decarbonisation remains the UK’s highest emitting sector. The CCC’s progress report reflects that although the uptake of electric cars is positive, the slower uptake of electric vans is a concern for the UK’s decarbonisation targets. In 2025, electric van sales grew by more than a third to reach 9.5% of the market, but this remained below the ZEV mandate’s target of 16%.

The CCC recognises there are several barriers that prevent wider adoption of EVs. These barriers include the higher cost of the vehicles as well as the high cost of public charging, which the CCC calls for the government to address urgently. One additional area identified for priority action is the grid connection process, with the CCC calling for government to speed up to ensure businesses are able to move to electric options, with electrifying depots specifically mentioned.

Logistics UK continues to engage with the CCC and other government bodies to raise concerns from members on the challenges facing them to decarbonise.

Update on the UK’s deforestation due diligence approach for GB and further information on the application of the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) in Northern Ireland

Yesterday (23 June), the UK government shared that it will consult on its aim to introduce a strengthened approach, in GB, including under the Environment Act 2021, and to strengthen the UK Timber Regulation (UKTR). The UK government has also confirmed that the EU Regulation on Deforestation Free Products (EUDR) will apply in Northern Ireland as part of arrangements which ensure Northern Ireland’s unique access to the EU Single Market is maintained.

Whilst no date has been set, the UK government therefore intends to consult on the introduction of regulations requiring GB businesses with an annual turnover of over £1 million per year, that use forest risk commodities and wood products in their commercial activity; to carry out due diligence to ensure these are produced in compliance with relevant local laws.

UK businesses operating within the EU or placing relevant products on the EU or Northern Ireland markets will have to comply with the EUDR. Large and medium operators will need to follow these new rules from 30 December 2026. Micro and small operators will need to follow EUDR rules from 30 December 2026 for wood products currently regulated under the EU Timber Regulation and from 30 June 2027 for all other relevant products.

The UK government has said its aim is to introduce an approach in GB which operates consistently alongside the EUDR and protects the UK internal market, ensuring the unique dual access for Northern Ireland businesses is maintained. It aims to require businesses which use relevant products to ensure they establish a due diligence system, report on their activity and hold proof of this compliance by collecting geolocation data about where they were produced. These requirements for placing relevant goods on the market in GB, and the products in scope, are intended to be broadly the same as those for placing the goods on the market in Northern Ireland, or exporting to the EU. In due course, the UK government intends to move towards a deforestation-free standard in GB.

The government will produce detailed guidance on how businesses can comply with EUDR in Northern Ireland shortly. Guidance published by the European Commission on complying with the EUDR can be found here.

Changes to simplify and modernise the customs system

Digital ATA Carnets

The government introduced digital ATA Carnets on 1 June, alongside the EU, Switzerland and Norway. This will replace paper-based systems used for the temporary movement of goods internationally. The measure will align the UK with international developments and support cross-border trade, modernising the process and reducing burden.

Online Tariff Tool (OTT) developments

The government will continue to develop the Online Tariff Tool (OTT) to provide a more modern, user-friendly digital service for traders. This forms part of a two-year programme to transform the OTT from a static reference tool into a smarter, journey-based service that supports businesses throughout the import and export process Enhancements aim to improve user features and the integration of AI tools to make tariff information easier to access, understand and use, helping to reduce administrative burdens and improve compliance.

Logistics UK response to DESNZ call for evidence on flexible electrolytic hydrogen production

Logistics UK is submitting evidence to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ’s) call for evidence on flexibility in electrolytic hydrogen production and use, setting out why the road freight sector’s operational realities and current supply make it challenging to adopt at the moment.

Logistics UK will highlight that fleet operators’ contractual commitments to delivery schedules, fixed refuelling windows, and inability to stockpile hydrogen mean price certainty and supply reliability, not technology maturity, are the primary barriers to hydrogen HGV uptake, and will call on DESNZ to ensure transport user perspectives are embedded in hydrogen policy development, alongside the energy industry voices currently dominating the conversation.

If members are responding to the call for evidence or would like to share views, please contact Lamech Solomon by 1 July.

Change to updates of Logistics UK’s Clean Air Zone briefing note publications

Logistics UK is updating its approach to its Clean Air Zone briefing note to better align with the review cycles of other compliance information documents. Instead of completing updates on a monthly basis, the briefing note will now be reviewed and refreshed every two years, or in the event of a significant update.

This change reflects the relatively stable nature of the information and ensures consistency across our compliance materials while still maintaining the accuracy and relevance of the content.

The latest briefing note can be viewed on the website here.

Average EU and UK forecourt prices

Please find the average EU and UK forecourt prices here.