City logistics: Chester City Centre Logistics Report

Chris Rowland • November 19, 2025
This major study, carried out on a pro bono basis for MDST’s home city, used primary research techniques to establish any issues related to delivering goods into the historic city centre of Chester.  The city has a very well-established pedestrianised zone, which means that deliveries of freight are banned in the city centre for most of the working day.  The research highlighted some of the key issues that emerged, which mainly related to a lack of flexibility for logistics operators in making deliveries and a lack of choice for city centre residents for the collection of parcels using active modes of transport. The Report suggests some potential solutions and these are most likely to be a combination of minor, low-cost enhancements to the infrastructure for deliveries – such as well-designed loading bays and improved signage – allied with appropriate enforcement and more options for convenient parcel collections by city centre residents on foot or bicycle. 

Pedestrianisation in Chester

The Chester City Centre Logistics Report was completed in 2025, which marks the 50th anniversary of the pedestrianisation of Chester city centre.  The pedestrianisation of the city centre is therefore very well-established but it does continue to pose particular issues for the delivery and collection of freight as it closes much of the historic centre to freight traffic for most of the working day.  

The work programme

One of the main objectives of the project was to establish the nature and extent of any issues related to freight deliveries and collections in Chester city centre based on primary research. Three research tasks were completed:


  • An observational survey of movements of freight vehicles in and out of the centre of Chester;
  • A survey of businesses located in Chester city centre; and
  • A survey of residents living in the city centre.


The research therefore established some facts about the size and nature of freight vehicle movements in and out of the city and then sought the views of two key stakeholders - businesses and residents – located in the city. The results of the research could then be used as the basis for determining what ‘problems’ exist before developing some potential solutions.


The issues


The evidence obtained during this project did not overall highlight many significant issues related to the delivery and collection of goods in Chester city centre, despite it being closed to vehicles during much of the working day and into the evening at some times of the year. This may be due to the pedestrianised area being so well established, which means that city centre businesses and many of their logistics providers have adapted their operations to allow for deliveries and collections before 10:30 in the morning. This does, however, lead to some knock-on impacts on the logistics operators’ efficiency. 

In addition, some parcels operators need or choose to make deliveries when the city centre is closed to vehicular traffic, which generates some issues for residents in streets close to the city centre. It highlights that many of issues relate to the lack flexibility of the timing of deliveries and how some logistics operators seeks to find workarounds. 


Potential solutions

 

The Report offers potential solutions, which would require the local highways authority to intervene. In MDST’s view any interventions should be a combination of minor, low-cost enhancements to the infrastructure for deliveries – such as well-designed loading bays and improved signage – allied with appropriate enforcement and more options for convenient parcel collections by city centre residents on foot or bicycle.

 

Acknowledgements

 

The study was part-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research & Technical Development Programme while MDS Transmodal was working as a partner in the SENATOR project between 2021 and 2024. Additional resources were then provided by MDS Transmodal on a pro bono basis. The study was completed with the kind support of Chester Business Investment District (BID), Chester Residents Association Group (CRAG) and Chester West and Chester Council (CW&C), although the opinions expressed, and conclusions reached, remain those of the authors.



More information

 

For more information on the Report and how MDST can help your town or city to find the most appropriate balance between the needs of its residents, businesses and the environment, please contact: web.enquiries@mdst.co.uk