Freight News, Logistics


Transport experts welcome new planning guidelines

[ August 20, 2026   //   ]

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK has welcomed the dedicated national planning policy for freight and logistics, saying it should help better recognise the infrastructure needed to support supply chains.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published on 17 August, introduces Policy E3, a standalone national decision-making policy covering freight and logistics uses and associated infrastructure.

The Framework also strengthens support for commercial development, enabling businesses to invest, expand, and adapt, and gives greater weight to renewable and low-carbon energy development and to electricity network infrastructure.

CILT’s director of public policy, Daniel Parker-Klein, said: “CILT (UK) has consistently argued that freight needs to be considered from the outset when government makes decisions about transport, infrastructure and economic growth. It shouldn’t be something we try to accommodate after everything else has been decided. Giving freight and logistics a dedicated national planning policy is therefore an important step.”

Policy E3 recognises the particular operational and locational requirements of freight and logistics, including access to appropriate transport networks, environmental impacts, electric vehicle charging, neighbouring uses, night-time operations, and sufficient, secure vehicle parking.

The NPPF’s definition of freight and logistics includes storage and distribution, rail terminals, intermodal facilities, HGV operating centres, lorry parking and ports.

Chair of CILT’s Public Policy Committee, Sue Terpilowski added: “For an industry that underpins virtually every part of the economy, freight has historically had a surprisingly uncomfortable relationship with the planning system. Too often the starting point has been the impacts that need to be mitigated rather than the essential economic and social function freight performs.

Ports are included within the NPPF’s definition of freight and logistics at a time when shore power and other forms of port electrification are creating substantial new electricity requirements at UK ports.

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