The Government’s proposed changes to the planning system have been warmly welcomed by the warehousing sector.
Responding to the consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework, which guides how planning decisions are made, the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) supported the explicit recognition of the importance of logistics to the economy.
The new version of the NPPF directs planning authorities to give greater weight to business investment and employment, and specifically calls for enough land to be allocated for storage and distribution operations at a variety of scales, in suitably accessible locations.
The UKWA, which represents 1,100 companies in the warehousing and logistics sector, has been arguing for a faster and more certain planning system, to allow for more rapid development of both large distribution centres on the strategic transport network, and smaller last mile fulfilment sites to serve towns and cities.
While the trade association was positive about the overall changes to the NPPF, it argued the document could be strengthened by putting more focus on economic growth in local plans, and using market signals like rents and occupation levels to show that more warehousing was needed in particular areas.
Clare Bottle, CEO of the UKWA, said: “The NPPF is a major step forward when it comes to building the warehousing the country needs. We have been calling for distribution and storage centres to be treated as essential economic infrastructure, and this document gives them the prominence they deserve.
“Warehouses aren’t just big sheds, they are increasingly modern, automated, facilities, which will be essential for growth, secure supply chains, job creation and the decarbonisation of the economy.
“By acknowledging the importance of freight and logistics in the Industrial Strategy, and now by putting the force of planning policy behind the sector, the Government has shown that our message is getting through. This is a relief, frankly, as our sector has been hit hard on employment costs, regulation and business rates recently.”
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