Member Article

As London creeps towards megacity status, do we need to think more carefully about logistics?

The appeal of London as a place to live, study and work has continued unabated despite the ever spiralling living costs, gridlocked roads and paralysed rail services.

Currently there are around 8.6m living within the city’s boundaries and, such is the capital’s appeal, that number is predicted to rise to 10m by 2030, effectively catapulting London into megacity status alongside the likes of Seoul, Tokyo and Shanghai.

Spectacular growth of this nature will inevitably pose some head scratching problems for policymakers and planners, who will face significant challenges keeping the city running smoothly and preventing London from choking on its own success.

One often overlooked area is freight and logistics, with the additional 1.4m people set to stream into the city placing strain on the city’s infrastructure, a problem only exacerbated by the continued boom in online shopping and grocery deliveries.

With this in mind, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called on City Hall to appoint a Freight Commissioner who will oversee efforts to create a ‘world class’ freight and logistics infrastructure that adapts to the changing requirements of the city.

While commending the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan’s efforts so far in reducing congestion and the impact on air quality, the LCCI argues that a figurehead implementing a singular vision for London’s logistics network is the only way to ensure the capital’s businesses and transport continue to run smoothly.

Natalie Chapman, deputy chair of LCCI’s Transport Committee, and Head of Policy for London at the Freight Transport Association said: “We are looking at a rapidly expanding population in London, which means not only do all these people need to be able to move about but they also require access to all the essential goods and services they want and need.

“People living in and visiting London expect to be able to buy their morning coffee, visit the shops and find everything they want in stock and also have a wide restaurant choice if they go out for an evening.

“This doesn’t just magically happen. Shops and restaurants have to be supplied and stocked and that means freight and logistics have to be properly co-ordinated.”