Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Accepted
Paragraph: 122
We welcome the Government’s intention to call for evidence on planning and delivering infrastructure for...
Recommendation
We welcome the Government’s intention to call for evidence on planning and delivering infrastructure for the freight and logistics sector. This must include questions about the planning process and the hurdles that are being faced by the maritime and ports sectors in this area. We urge the Government to bring forward this consultation without further delay, and to use the outcome of it, in combination with the 2018 Ports Connectivity Study, to develop concrete priorities and plans.
Government Response Summary
The government will publish the Freight Planning Call for Evidence this summer, encouraging ports to respond fully, and is working with ports to understand their highest priority connectivity needs and champion these, including holding industry workshops to identify potential low-cost projects and resolve non-financial barriers.
Paragraph Reference:
122
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government agrees. As the Future of Freight Plan, published in June 2022 outlines, it is Government and industry’s shared goal to develop a planning system which fully recognises the needs of the freight and logistics sector now and in the future, empowering the relevant planning authority to plan for those needs. DfT, in partnership with DLUHC, will be publish the Freight Planning Call for Evidence this summer. We will encourage the ports sector to respond fully to this call for evidence; we need specific tangible evidence of areas for improvement to support the case for change. DfT fully recognises that ports cannot grow substantially without effective transport connections. To help ensure port connectivity is prioritised within road and rail investment schemes, DfT is working with ports to understand their highest priority connectivity needs and champion these. We held two industry workshops on this in February and April 2023 and are planning on follow up deep dive sessions. These will seek industry views on potential low-cost projects that could benefit multiple ports or freight paths, and how we can help resolve any long-standing non-financial barriers such as evidence gaps, prioritisation criteria and general awareness amongst decision makers of the benefits of increasing port connectivity. This renewed focus on port connectivity has been welcomed by the industry.