London-based, sustainability-focused non-profit Cross River Partnership (CRP) has launched two Virtual Loading Bays (VLBs) in collaboration with Grid Smarter Cities, both bays trialling in the London Borough of Camden.
Both VLBs are located on Morwell Street and Kentish Town Road and will be available to book, free-of-charge, until the end of 2024. VLBs aim to make deliveries more efficient, sustainable and improve congestion and air quality in the local area.
They do this by providing dedicated and guaranteed space for freight activities to take place for a safe amount of time, granting the ability to book time at the kerbside in line with freight operations and enabling local authorities to manage their kerbside and prioritise time and space for freight movements.
Project manager at CRP, Katherine Fairfax, said: “CRP are delighted to launch two VLBs in the London Borough of Camden, adding to the growing network of VLBs being trialled across London.
“CRP’s Defra-funded kerbside management trial provides an exciting opportunity to test Grid Smarter Cities’ innovative kerbside technology and monitor the impacts to local congestion and air quality.”
The kerbside management trial is part of Smarter Greener Logistics, a Defra-funded project led by Westminster City Council in collaboration with 25 project partners.
The project aims to minimise the impact of freight on noise, air quality, traffic and pavement space in London by making improvements across 14 London boroughs and two London Business Improvement Districts.
Laura Jacklin, director of UK sales at Grid Smarter Cities, said: “At Grid we are pleased to see this project expanding to service store fronts on busy high streets that benefit from better kerbside management facilitating efficient deliveries increasing visibility and safety for all.
“It is important that businesses get deliveries in harmony with active travel users, making the most efficient use of the congested urban space.”
