VIEWPOINT
Changes in the container shipping industry during the past two decades have prompted UNCTAD and MDSTransmodal to undertake a second revision of methodology to calculate the LSCI and PLSCI datasets. This revision will be applied on 15 March 2024 to the data release for the first quarter of 2024 (Q1/2024) and both data series since 2006.
MDS Transmodal (MDST) carried out a commercial vehicle traffic survey in November 2023 as part of a programme of work to develop a freight strategy for Chester city centre. It follows from the survey of businesses which investigated the perception of businesses regarding the delivery and collection of freight in the city centre, much of which has been pedestrianised with a time window for access by vehicles in the morning and evening. This commercial vehicle traffic survey of the morning peak for deliveries between 07.00 and 11.00 in the heritage city centre showed that 76% of vehicles were light goods vehicles, 18% were (generally small) HGVs, 6% were waste collection vehicles and 1% were bicycles being used for food deliveries. Just under 3% of all movements were by zero emission vehicles (including bicycles).
While there is an urgent need to provide additional parking facilities for both HGV and LGV drivers, new sites should be appropriately located so that they can best serve the operational requirements of the sector, but also conform with planning policy and minimise their environmental impacts. This has now been confirmed by a recent planning decision relating to a proposed lorry park in the Cotswolds.
SERVICES
Planning
Whether you are a developer seeking planning consent for a new distribution park or a port that needs to develop a needs case for a major new piece of infrastructure, MDS Transmodal develops transport ‘needs’ cases to aid planning applications. Based on sound evidence MDST provides the following services:
- Setting out the policy arguments in favour of the proposed development.
- Analysing the market environment and modelling existing traffic flows.
- Developing demand forecasts
- Examining the advantages and disadvantages of potential alternatives to the proposed development.
- Analysis of infrastructure capacity.
- Working with barristers and solicitors, as well as planning consultants and other members of the consultancy team such as environmental consultants.
- Consulting with other statutory and non-statutory stakeholders such as the managers of road, rail and inland waterway infrastructure.
MDS provides independent analysis and advice based on an understanding of freight markets, rigorous analysis of the evidence base and modelling of impacts, while having expert knowledge of the policy and planning context.
Clients include: developers of distribution parks, port operators, rail terminal operators and local authorities.