As London's population is expected to continue to grow so is consumer demand for goods and services including online purchasing. This, in turn, has generated the need for greater management of delivery and servicing trips across the city to minimise externalities such as congestion and emissions.
Transport for London is keen to reduce the impact of delivery and servicing. It has therefore introduced a programme to investigate and trial the feasibility of various initiatives including avoiding deliveries during busy times, preferred supplier schemes or the implementation of various consolidation schemes.
The Steer project team prepared a high-level feasibility study to understand the potential for a South London Urban Consolidation Centre to serve Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth local authorities.
Our analysis identified a potential area of search using GIS network analysis and delivery information recorded by the four local authorities. The team also used the data to estimate, at a high level, what the likely costs would be, revenues and implications for emission reduction for the four south London boroughs.
Successes and outcomes
Our final report and presentation to Transport for London and representatives of the four local authorities showed that, although it was an option that could lead to high reduction in the number of trips, there were a series of key challenges to overcome.
We recommended a number of alternative initiatives that could provide benefits of a similar order without requiring the same level of investment.
The key recommendations for next steps and actions have been taken onboard by Transport for London and the local authorities for future initiatives.
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