Our Policy & Public Affairs Director, Edwin Morgan, coined the phrase a ‘Summer Season of Strategies’ as the Government last month unveiled its Spending Review, a 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, and the Industrial Strategy in rapid succession, alongside the publication at the end of June of the Solar Roadmap.
It’s encouraging to see this flurry of policy activity, but is it good news for warehousing? The Industrial Strategy focuses on eight so-called ‘growth-driving sectors’ like advanced manufacturing, clean energy and life sciences, reflecting government priorities. At first glance, this may suggest the essential role of warehousing in the UK economy has been overlooked yet again. However, a closer look reveals reasons for optimism.
These strategies will shape the availability of R&D grants from Innovate UK and indicate which sectors are considered critical for national security or other political priorities: areas where warehouses underpin every supply chain.
Since the General Election, a year ago this month, UKWA and other industry bodies have worked hard to impress upon the Labour Government the central importance of logistics to both public and private supply chains. Encouragingly, the message appears to be landing. Early moves on planning reform include proposals for a ‘grey belt’ designation that could accelerate planning decisions. The reformed Freight Council, on which UKWA sits, is now more engaged with the sector, and MPs like Rachel Taylor – who spoke at our annual conference – are championing key issues such as freight crime.
The publication of the Solar Roadmap in late June, which acknowledges UKWA’s role in creating a Solar Toolkit for warehouse owners and occupiers, is further evidence that Government is beginning to listen. This toolkit, launching in September, will help warehouse tenants and their landlords to navigate design, legal, grid, and financial challenges for rooftop solar, directly addressing barriers identified by our members.
Nonetheless, strategies alone are not enough. What truly matters is their practical impact on business. Members frequently report frustrations: planning processes remain slow, the business rates system is complex and punitive for warehousing, securing grid connections for new sites or rooftop solar installations is challenging, and funds paid into the Apprenticeship Levy remain underused, whilst labour costs spiral upwards.
As the Industrial Strategy, Solar Roadmap, and other initiatives move from paper to practice, UKWA will continue listening to our members and pressing for these real-world issues to be resolved. The Government’s strategic publications spell out its ambitions for economic growth, housebuilding, infrastructure and clean energy. Only with a thriving warehousing and logistics sector can these bold aims be achieved.
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