Policy information sourced from Thurrock Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development

PMD11 – FREIGHT MOVEMENT

Applicants for development with a need for freight movements exceeding the equivalent of 200 daily HGV movements will be required, as part of their planning applications, to produce a Sustainable Distribution Plan. This should include evidence that commercially viable opportunities for freight carried by rail, water, pipeline or conveyor have been maximised, and that air quality impacts have been minimised.

  • In addition, applicants for development generating significant HGV movements or extending the period over which existing HGV movements will continue will be required to carry out a HGV Impact Assessment. This will be either stand-alone or as part of the Sustainable Distribution Plan and will comprise a technical appraisal of routes and their adequacy, taking into account the need to avoid sensitive areas such as unsuitable residential areas.
  • HGVs will be required, through the use of planning obligations, to use Corridors of Movement (see Policy PMD9 and its associated map) in preference to roads further down the Council’s Road Network Hierarchy.
  • Development generating significant levels of HGV traffic will only be permitted where they have access to Corridors of Movement on roads that are suitable or can be improved to a standard that will make them suitable for the level and type of HGV traffic the development is likely to generate and where the access would not be contrary to Policy PMD 9.
  • Through the use of planning obligations, developers will be expected to fund any road improvements that are required if existing routes are not entirely suitable and contribute towards area-wide transport improvement programmes in order to mitigate any potential/wider adverse impact of the development.
  • For B1, B2 and B8 developments in excess of 30,000 sqm, planning obligations for Vehicle Booking Systems will be secured as part of the overall Sustainable Distribution Plan, ensuring that the site cannot be used by any operator, until a Vehicle Booking System has been set up for that operator. This will be used as a mechanism to manage access onto designated routes during peak periods in order to manage road capacity. Designated routes will include the A13, A1089, A1306 and A1014.
  • B1, B2 and B8 developments in excess of 30,000 sqm will only be permitted where adequate facilities are provided for drivers of commercial vehicles. Where 24-hour operation is permitted for such developments, provision must be made for overnight parking for goods vehicles in accordance with the Layout and Standards SPD

Adequate on-site loading/unloading and manoeuvring space will be required in all circumstances in accordance with the Layout and Standards SPD.

Key Diagrams and Maps

Key Diagram Map 2: Road Network Hierarchy

For more information please see the Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development