The Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, updated MPs on the joint initiative between the Department for Transport and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on planning reforms for lorry parking, and to emphasise the critical importance of the freight and logistics sector.
He relayed that the infrastructure that supports hauliers is essential to the effective and resilient supply chains we need and that government is committed to addressing the strategic national need for more lorry parking and better services in lorry parks in England. He said ‘we must act now.’
In the near term government are working with their partners to identify and deliver a number of temporary sites where short-term modular facilities can be installed to support hauliers access to parking and services.
National Highways are being encouraged to consider how their land holdings can be used to provide additional parking spaces nationwide, to give priority to the provision of lorry parking across the Strategic Road Network and assist local authorities in identifying areas of lorry parking need.
The government is also determined that the planning system should play its part in meeting the needs of hauliers and addressing current deficiencies. Planning plays a critical part in the allocation of land for lorry parking. In addition, the government’s policy is clear that development proposals for new or expanded goods distribution centres should make provision for sufficient lorry parking to cater for their anticipated use.
Planning practice guidance has been published and to ensure future decision-making supports the needs of the sector the Highways Circular 02/2013 The Strategic Road Network and the delivery of sustainable development and the National survey of lorry parking have been updated.
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