“Logistics must not be an afterthought of home building programme,” says Logistics UK

Speaking about today’s statement made by the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner MP, Logistics UK’s Policy Director Kevin Green said:

“The government’s announcement today on freeing up “grey belt” sites for building more homes is encouraging news for the economy, but does not address the fact that these homes will need to have access to all the logistics that we take for granted in our everyday lives. New homes need shops, schools, hospitals and more and all of these facilities need to be serviced effectively by a logistics network in close proximity to its end users.  Logistics underpins every sector of the UK’s economy and is vital to driving future growth – investment in it, and the infrastructure it needs, can support the government’s ambitions for growth.  Logistics UK is urging the government to consider the everyday needs of the sector as part of the planning and construction process, to allocate sufficient space for logistics facilities and ensure that the needs of the sector are included as an integral part of any planning process.

“The UK’s planning process has been too slow and too complex for too long, and the reforms announced by Ms Rayner to streamline the system and make it easier to achieve planning approval is welcomed by logistics businesses aiming to build facilities to support consumer and business needs.  Our members look forward to engaging with the government on the forthcoming consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework to ensure that the final plans take into account the needs of our industry, which supports every part of the economy.”

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.  For more information about the organisation and its work, please get in touch – here.