How effective are current Local and Central Government planning systems and planning officers in shaping the efficiency and environmental impacts of road freight and what future improvements may be needed, including to capability, to ensure the planning system supports road freight to contribute to meeting Government ambitions? 

Background

The reducing environmental impacts strategic priority is in recognition that there is an environmental aspect to all transport, and therefore almost all the work of DfT. Transport is the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gases in the UK, contributing 27% of domestic emissions in 2019. Our transport system must change to deliver the government’s Net Zero ambition and DfT will drive forwards that change through our longer-term green transport agenda. On decarbonisation specifically, we published our Transport decarbonisation plan (TDP) in July 2021, which sets out the steps we will take to deliver the necessary carbon reductions across every form of transport. Sustainability will be at the heart of levelling-up. People everywhere will feel the benefits – villages, towns, cities, and countryside will be cleaner, greener, healthier and more prosperous and pleasant environments in which to live and work

Next steps

Get in touch with bridgetoresearch@dft.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DFT-Areas of research interest 2023 GOV UK

Related UKRI funded projects


  • National Freight Model (Phase 2)

    The UK Freight system is extensive comprising around 195,000 enterprises, 2.5 million employees, and contributing £121 billion gross value added (GVA) to the economy. In most places, LGVs and HGVs contribute ~30% o...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: CITY SCIENCE CORPORATION LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to provide a fully open National Freight Model that can be used to explore and analyze route/volume/congestion, which is relevant to understanding the efficiency and environmental impacts of road freight planning systems.

  • London Freight Mapping and End User Solution

    A considerable portion of congestion and pollution is linked to freight traffic on the UK’s roads and more particularly, to wasted or unnecessary mileage attributed to the lack of accurate road restriction information av...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: MPIE LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to develop a web-based Freight Journey Planner and integrate the Freight Repository data into a commercial vehicle navigation system, which partially addresses the question by improving route planning and scheduling of freight fleets.

  • Freight Traffic Control 2050: transforming the energy demands of last-mile urban freight through collaborative logistics

    CONTEXT OF THE RESEARCH: Freight transport accounts for 16% of all motorised road vehicle activity in British towns and cities and is therefore a major consumer of fossil fuels and contributor to CO2 and air pollution. I...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Southampton

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to investigate the potential transport and energy benefits of closer operational collaboration between parcel carriers, which partially addresses the question by exploring future improvements to the planning system to support road freight in meeting government ambitions.

  • Decarbonising the UK's Freight Transport

    Like energy and automotive before it, UK freight transport is now on the cusp of a socio-technical transition away from fossil fuel dependency. This transition will require major investment to fleet and infrastructure, c...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University College London

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project specifically addresses decarbonisation of freight transport, aligns with government initiatives, and outlines a detailed plan for research and collaboration.

  • Levelling up Freight

    **Background** Rail freight is vital to Britain. It contributes almost £2.5bn to the economy and plays a big part in reducing congestion and emissions. Rail is more environmentally friendly than road, with every t...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: 3SQUARED LTD.

  • Centre for Sustainable Road Freight Transport

    The CfSRFT brings together two of the UK's leading academic groups to make road freight economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. This will be the first time that a team of international standing has fully ...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Cambridge

  • FTCP - Freight Traffic Control (Construction) Platform

    "Construction activity is essential to ensure the regeneration of not only London but also all UK cities and ultimately all cities around the world. With growing populations and increased urbanisation there's an eve...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: GRID SMARTER CITIES LTD

  • Automated Model Build for Decarbonisation and Climate Resilience

    Our experience developing transport decarbonisation strategies indicates the need for a new generation of easy-to-access, multi-modal models (including freight) to provide the necessary, detailed intelligence to enable l...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: CITY SCIENCE CORPORATION LIMITED

  • Innovative Intermodal Urban Freight Transport Solution

    Urban supply chains suffer from, and are a significant contributor to, road congestion. The loss of business efficiency, increase in air pollution, damage to the road network etc. are estimated to cost the UK economy &po...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: MOLE SOLUTIONS LIMITED

  • FreightUp

    The UK road haulage industry is crucial economically (£41.2bn) and environmentally, 22% road surface emissions are from HGVs.Yet 29% of HGVs travel empty. Freight exchanges are web sites where users advertise avail...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: RETURN LOADS LLP

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on improving efficiency and reducing emissions in the road haulage industry, but does not address the broader scope of government planning systems and future improvements needed.