National Planning Policy Framework announcement - government recognises importance of logistics facilities for the economy

Thursday 12 December 2024

Business group Logistics UK has reacted with optimism to the government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), announced today (12 December), which recognises the importance of logistics developments to the economy for the first time. The business group is also urging planners to understand that the logistics sector is vital to the delivery of all the new housing the government wants to see. 

“The government’s instruction to planners to support the economy by identifying suitable locations for freight and logistics is a significant step forward for our sector,” says Jonathan Walker, Logistics UK’s Head of Infrastructure and Planning Policy, who adds: “It is also good news that the updated NPPF calls for local planners to have regard to industries of national importance and national industrial strategy, to support economic growth.”  

Jonathan Walker continues, “As new houses are delivered, planners must ensure that they have the supportive systems that they need to be part of sustainable communities. This includes enabling the logistics sector to provide the facilities required to serve homes, as well as hospitals, offices and schools, with the goods they need, when they need them. 

“For too long logistics has been an afterthought in the planning system, so today’s announcement will help our sector play a greater part in rebuilding the economy. Nothing moves without logistics, and it is essential that the key role logistics plays is top of mind when local plans and spatial development strategies are being developed. All those served by the new developments – whether domestic or commercial – will expect to access the goods they need, every day.” 

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.