Logistics UK says slow progress in the logistics network map is hurting growth

• The UK government’s lack of urgency in defining a national logistics network is leading to high congestion costs, stunting economic growth, and hindering decarbonisation across the supply chain, according to Logistics UK.
• In publishing the UK Logistics Network – Progress Tracker on 4 December, the industry body found that only one of its 10 recommendations for 2024 had seen “significant progress”: the establishment of the National Infrastructure and Services Transformation Authority (NESTA). The other nine remain largely intact.
• The original UK Logistics Network report mapped the country’s vital freight corridors across road, rail, air and sea, urging the government to formally recognize and invest in these key routes. She said doing so would enable the development of a joint national strategy for shipping efficiency and sustainability.

The government’s slow progress in defining a national logistics network is discouraging growth, increasing the cost of congestion and delaying the logistics sector’s ability to decarbonise sustainably. That’s the conclusion reached by business group Logistics UK following the publication of the UK Logistics Network – Progress Tracker, which reviews its landmark ‘UK Logistics Network’ report, published in November 2024. The updated document reveals that of the ten recommendations in the original report, the government has only made ‘substantial progress’ on one – establishing the National Infrastructure and Services Transformation Authority (NISTA).

The UK Logistics Network has mapped the UK’s most important logistics routes and made recommendations on initiatives and investments that can increase efficiency and boost the economy. The progress report published today (4 December) reviews activity against the sector’s original requirements and shows where more needs to be done to strengthen the infrastructure that supports the logistics sector and therefore every part of the UK economy.

Jonathan Walker, UK Head of Infrastructure and Logistics Planning Policy, said: “Our initial report was published as a conversation starter, but the time for talk is over – urgent action is needed.

“The government has recognized that it needs a better understanding of the freight network, and the case for adopting network mapping in our original report remains overwhelming. Our research revealed a network of interconnected road, rail, air and sea transport routes, and showed how the system relies on a relatively small number of key corridors. These are the routes that logistics operators rely on, and therefore the most important routes for delivering efficient and resilient supply chains. Formally defining these transport corridors would create a shared understanding across Whitehall and the industry of what needs to be protected and strengthened, and help all stakeholders act Together to achieve the country’s economic ambitions.

According to the new report, some progress has been made over the past year, including the publication of the Ten-Year Infrastructure Strategy, the establishment of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NESTA), and movement on projects of national importance such as the Lower Thames Crossing.

“However, congestion, lack of investment and fragmented planning continue to hold back UK growth,” Walker concludes. “Between 2015 and 2024, the annual cost of congestion on the strategic road network for heavy vehicles rose by more than £930 million, driving down UK productivity. At the same time, the UK cannot effectively decarbonise without coordinated investment in energy infrastructure for charging – and this requires clarity on where it needs to be.”

“There must be a shared view across government on which transport corridors are most important for UK supply chains – our report identified this in autumn 2024 and the government should adopt our analysis as part of its next freight plan.”