South Bradford Lorry Parking Study

A lack of parking facilities for HGVs is an issue for local authorities around the UK and MDS Transmodal has recently completed a study in South Bradford that provides recommendations on how adequate parking provision can be made in suitable locations for the road haulage industry.

In January 2017, MDS Transmodal was commissioned by the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council to undertake a study examining lorry parking issues in the south of the city, close to a number of its industrial areas. Feedback from a number of the City’s Councillors suggested there was a lack of suitable parking facilities in the area leading to parking in inappropriate locations that had an impact on local residents and businesses alike.

The study was initially tasked with identifying the ‘hot spots’ where there are known to be issues associated with inappropriate freight vehicle parking and high light the specific issues in each location. This included consultation exercises with relevant Councillors, the council’s officers, West Yorkshire Police and the Freight Transport Association. The study then focused on the identification of a series of solutions to tackle those issues, which included identifying a long list of potential sites in south Bradford which could accommodate freight vehicle parking facilities, assessing the type of parking facility that was practicable for each site and estimating the associated development costs and revenue implications.. The study concluded by recommending a short list of potential sites that should be taken forward, alongside advice on funding and site development and behavioural change to encourage and if necessary compel drivers to use the facilities.

The study combined a quantitative approach to forecasting demand for such facilities, based on using commercial property data available in-house to quantify the amount of ‘industrial’ floor space located in south Bradford, and insight and knowledge of the freight industry to identify suitable sites and determining the facilities which would be required at those sites. Consequently, any facilities developed should be in the right locations with sufficient capacity to serve the industry’s needs while providing relief to residents and businesses alike in the identified hot spots.