🕒 Article read time: 2 minutes
Logistics must not be an afterthought of home building programme, says Logistics UK
Speaking about this week’s statement made by the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner MP, Logistics UK’s Policy Director Kevin Green said: “The government’s announcement 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.”
Published On: 01/08/2024 13:56:12
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News In Brief
M62 September closures imminent to facilitate rebuilding of crucial rail freight bridge
Castleton Bridge, which spans the Transpennine M62 motorway, is being rebuilt, and Network Rail has warned this will cause disruption for freight transport in the area including the closures of motorways around Greater Manchester.
The railway at Castleton, between Manchester and Rochdale, is a vital south-north link, facilitating an annual burden of 3,000 freight trains.
The biggest single components - a pair of steel beams for the bridge - have been delivered to a specially built compound, in a project cargo move across three countries.
The project involved the first-ever weekend closure of the M62 in July and will lead to further closures in September. In preparation, a partial closure was required to deliver two 42m beams, which will be the mainstay of the replacement bridge.
The Castleton Bridge carries six per cent of the UK's energy supply with freight trains carrying biomass, mainly from Liverpool, to the huge generating complex at Drax in Selby in Yorkshire.
"The replacement of Castleton bridge is essential for the safe running of our railway. The UK's energy supply relies on the bridge for transportation," said Olivia Boland from Network Rail.
"It is a unique project that sees weekend closures of the M62 for the first time."
National Highways advice on September disruption:
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