MIPIM UK: DP World London Gateway’s commercial director Peter Ward has challenged London mayor Boris Johnson to re-examine the restrictions on night-time deliveries.
Speaking at MIPIM UK conference session The e-commerce revolution: Trends and implications for the industrial and logistics sector, Ward said: “Demographics and population growth are leading to a concentration of stores leading to massive competition for tarmac around this city. We’ve got to relax the regulations on night-time deliveries.”
“It is interesting that he was able to relax the regulations for the Olympics but unfortunately the restrictions are back to the pre-2012 legislation,” Ward said.
Planners also came under fire during the session for their perceived lack of understanding of the logistics business and SEGRO chief operating officer Andy Gulliford said that local authorities should recognise that logistics provides employment opportunities and that logistics is competing with housing for the provision of sites. “Don’t forget the sheds in planning regeneration,” he said.
Gulliford added that planners also need to understand logistics operators’ needs, such as car parking provision. “Urban logistics needs more car parking that standard industrial. These facilities need a lot of people,” he explained.
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