Transport for the North (TfN) has started a public consultation on a new draft Freight & Logistics Strategy for the North of England, which offers a strategic plan for supporting and enabling the flow of goods throughout the region.
TfN’s draft strategy emphasises the importance of efficient goods transportation in driving economic recovery and growth in the region, as the North of England accounts for more than 33% of goods entering the region’s ports and 25% of GB freight beginning or ending in the region.
TfN confront a number of issues faced by the freight and logistics industry, including industry decarbonisation, a lack of warehouse capacity (particularly rail-connected warehousing), a lack of dependable and efficient east-west connection across the Pennines, and an over-reliance on ports in the South of England.
It also examines the need for a multimodal freight network that includes road, rail, and water, as well as the possibility for ports and freeports, and provides a delivery plan and suggestions.
“The freight and logistics sector is vital in helping us all get the things we need to go about our daily lives. The impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the UK leaving the EU brought this into sharp focus, so now is the perfect time for the North of England to set out a strategy on how we can best support and enable the movement of goods around our region.” said Martin Tugwell, Chief Executive at Transport for the North.
“Our Freight & Logistics Strategy, which covers road, rail and waterway freight, reveals the data that drives the sector; identifies the options for decarbonising freight; and sets out the importance of the sector to enabling ambitious growth for businesses.
“It’s an important piece of work, and we urge everyone to get involved in the consultation – not just those who work in the sector, but members of the general public and business community too. Getting goods to our homes and workplaces efficiently, reliably and in a sustainable way is only going to get more important in the coming years, so it’s essential we hear from many voices now to help set us on the right journey for our future needs.”
The Freight & Logistics Strategy is currently open for public consultation until January 31, 2022, and TfN encourages everyone to learn more and have their say.
TfN will hold a free webinar with transport, freight, and logistics experts on Wednesday, January 12th, to highlight the necessity of efficient goods movement and decarbonisation.
