Logistics UK responds to Labour’s ‘Build it in Britain’ strategy announcement

Labour's 'Build it in Britain' project - announced 17 April 2024 - aims to help create 400,000 jobs, including in the crucial manufacturing sector, through a green recovery from the Covid crisis.

The party is calling for an economic recovery that will deliver high-skilled jobs in every part of the UK as part of the drive towards a clean economy. It is also calling for the low-carbon infrastructure of the future to be built in Britain.

Labour has also set out a plan to support development on the “grey belt” land

This would allow building on areas of the green belt that have few natural and aesthetic qualities. Five “golden rules” will guide development on “ugly” land, including ensuring at least 50% of homes built are affordable, boosting public services infrastructure, and improving green spaces.

Logistics UK welcomes these proposed planning reforms to support development, and will be highlighting that it is vital that any such reforms support the delivery of logistics sites, as well as housing.

Labour's proposed £1.8 billion port investment

A further announcement from the Labour party is its Green Prosperity Plan, committing £1.8 billion over five years to upgrade UK’s ports infrastructure, should they be elected to government.

The party is also aiming to add billions more in private investment and claims that this combined spend could deliver 650,000 jobs over the next decade.

Sir Kier Starmer visited the northeast of England 18 April 2024 to make the announcement. Prior to the visit Starmer said: “A Labour government will reindustrialise Britain, from the biggest investment in our ports in a generation to a British jobs bonus to crowd billions of investments into our industrial heartlands and coastal communities.”

Labour envisions the investment as crucial to its decarbonisation plans, with ports set to play a key role in delivering offshore wind power.

Speaking about the announcement, Michelle Gardner, Logistics UK Deputy Policy Director said: “The UK’s international trade connections have fallen behind our competitors in recent years, so it is vital that there is renewed focus on our ports and other logistics infrastructure, as well as work to reduce border friction and paperwork.

"Ports and other logistics hubs are critical to the UK’s supply chains and our green industrial future. As well as being essential gateways for trade and the smooth delivery of goods, they will play an increasingly vital role for the charging of vehicles – on water and land, importing low carbon fuels and the development and operation of offshore energy infrastructure.

"Of course, the devil of this proposal will be in the detail, but Logistics UK looks forward to working with the Labour Party on making the proposal a reality if they were to be successful in the upcoming General Election.”

Published On: 25/04/2024 15:00:00

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