Head of Planning and Infrastructure Policy Jonathan Walker says: “The lack of mention of freight in what purports to be a vision for an Integrated National Transport Strategy is deeply disappointing.
“The UK needs a genuinely integrated transport strategy that meets the needs of the travelling public while facilitating the efficient movement of freight, which is critical for driving growth throughout the economy and delivering the goods that consumers and businesses rely on every day.
“Logistics UK has identified the key transport corridors and critical routes for investment and is pressing the Treasury and the Department for Transport to use our research for formally identifying the UK’s Logistics Network and use this as the basis of a 30-year infrastructure strategy.
“Quite rightly, the Transport Secretary has highlighted the need to reform the appraisal system to give sufficient weight to transport projects that enhance access to jobs, boost productivity, and help businesses grow and these are areas where the logistics sector has extensive experience.
“Around 8% of the nation’s workforce works in logistics and the sector contributes £185 billon to the economy which means that, if appraisals are properly reformed, the result should be greater investment in the UK’s critical supply chain infrastructure. We will continue to work with the government to achieve a truly integrated network to keep people moving and keep Britain trading.”
