Call for urgent action on logistics network

Slow progress on logistics network map is harming growth, says Logistics UK

Slow progress by the government in identifying a national logistics network is inhibiting growth, increasing the cost of congestion and delaying the logistics sector’s ability to decarbonise sustainably. 

That is the conclusion of business group Logistics UK following the publication of its UK Logistics Network – Progress Tracker, which is a follow-up to its report UK Logistics Network, published in November 2024.

The updated document reveals that, of the 10 recommendations made in the original report, the government has only made “substantial progress” on one - the establishment of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). 

The UK Logistics Network mapped the UK’s most critical logistics routes and made recommendations on initiatives and investment that could drive efficiency and boost the economy. 

The Progress Tracker reviews activity against the sector’s original demands and shows where more needs to be done to strengthen the infrastructure that underpins the logistics sector and thus, every part of the UK economy.

Logistics UK’s head of infrastructure and planning policy, Jonathan Walker, said: “Our initial report was published as a conversation starter, but the time for talking is over – urgent action is needed.

“The government has recognised it needs to better understand the freight network and the case for adopting the network mapping in our original report remains overwhelming. Our research revealed a network of interconnected road, rail, air and maritime transport routes, and showed how the system is reliant on a relatively small number of key corridors. These are the routes that logistics operators are reliant upon, and therefore the routes that are most critical for delivering efficient and resilient supply chains. 

“Formally identifying these transport corridors would create a shared understanding across Whitehall and industry of what needs protecting and enhancing, aiding all stakeholders to work together to achieve the country’s economic ambitions.” 

According to the new report, there has been some progress over the past year, including the publication of the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, the establishment of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), and movement on nationally significant projects such as the Lower Thames Crossing. 

“However,” concludes Jonathan Walker, “congestion, under-investment and fragmented planning continue to constrain the UK's growth. Between 2015 and 2024, the annual cost of congestion on the Strategic Road Network for HGVs rose by more than £930m, dragging down UK productivity. At the same time, the UK cannot decarbonise effectively without coordinated investment in energy infrastructure for freight – and that requires clarity on where it needs to be located.

“There needs to be a shared view across government on which transport corridors are most essential to the UK’s supply chains –- our report set these out in autumn 2024 and our analysis needs to be adopted by the government as part of the upcoming Freight Plan.”