What is an Urban Consolidation Centre?
An urban consolidation centre (UCC) is a central location where freight can be unloaded from vans and lorries and distributed in an efficient way. Electric vehicles can also be involved and the centres are formed on the outskirts of cities and large towns.
Why are urban consolidation centres used?
Urban consolidation centres are used to tackle a range of issues within supply chains and the logistics sector, as well as for local communities too.
UCCs aim to reduce:
- Air pollution from lots of vehicles moving around towns and cities
- Noise pollution from traffic, particularly near residential and commercial spaces
- Congestion from excessive vehicles on the road
UCCs aim to improve:
- Pedestrian accessibility and safety within urban areas, due to fewer large vehicles on inner city roads
- Air quality, by reducing exhaust emissions
- Efficiency, by reducing the number of journeys needed to deliver goods to locations close to one another
- Green credentials of businesses taking part in UCCs
Are there any existing Urban Consolidation Centres in the UK?
UCCs are not an entirely new concept- the first successful urban consolidation centre in the UK was set up in Bristol in 2002. However, UCCs are not particularly widespread in the UK, despite having been trialled over 20 years ago now. Below are some examples of the most successful urban consolidation centres to date:
- Serves at least 100 clients in Bristol
- Distributes goods with 9 tonne electric vans that are able to hold 5 tonnes of freight
Bath UCC (technically an extension of Bristol UCC)
- Between January 2011 – April 2012, the number of delivery journeys into Bath reduced by 1016
- 81% of participating retailers were positive about the UCC scheme and very likely to recommend it to others
- 46% reduction in the number of vehicle trips delivering to London council sites
- 45% reduction in the distance travelled by delivery vehicles
- 41% reduction in CO2 emissions
- Over 70% vehicle capacity utilisation was achieved overall
How viable an option are Urban Consolidation Centres for the future?
With a decarbonisation policy to fulfil by 2050 and the world’s most ambitious climate change target, the UK needs to look at sustainability within supply chains. Urban consolidation centres can offer a way for supply chains and individual companies to reduce their carbon footprint, however there are limitations to consider: attitudes and planning. These can both be overcome by better education on the benefits of UCCs, as well as taking ideas from the way that pilot UCCs have been successfully introduced.
With increasing pressure to move to more sustainable fulfilment and delivery services, it’s vital that logistics companies, towns and cities, and policy makers all think collaboratively about the benefits to be harnessed from the more widespread introduction of UCCs. As we move closer to the deadlines for our climate and carbon targets, and as we see pressure mounting on urban infrastructure, the case for the adoption of UCCs becomes all the more convincing.
Has this article got you interested in greener, more sustainable logistics? Then have a read of our Greener Logistics for a Safer Planet article! To find out more about our commitment to environmental responsibility within the logistics sector, take a look at our site’s environmental sustainability section.
For more information on how Welch’s Transport can improve your logistical efficiency and operations, please get in contact with us today on +44 (0)1223 843011, or email us at [email protected] .