Warehousing and Logistics Study, Leicester and Leicestershire

Client: Leicester and Leicestershire authorities and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership
Location: Leicester and Leicestershire
Discipline(s):

GL Hearn, in partnership with MDS Transmodal and Iceni Projects, was appointed to undertake the study ‘Warehousing and Logistics in Leicester and Leicestershire: Planning and Managing Change / Growth’, as jointly commissioned by the Leicester and Leicestershire authorities and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership. The study will form part of the evidence base for the Leicester and Leicestershire authorities’ Local Plan review programmes.

This study brought together a wide range of topics related to the current and future needs of the sector, with an emphasis in particular on the assessment of how much additional floorspace is likely to be needed for rail-served and road-served strategic distribution covering the period 2020 to 2041.

The outcome

The finalised report from the study provides clear recommendations as to the amount of land required for strategic warehousing purposes over the lifespan of the plan.

There were a number of key findings:

The key drivers of change in the logistics and distribution sector are: shifts in the e-commerce market; the de-carbonisation agenda and the impact of COVID-19. The report also considered the macro-economic picture, for example the effect of Brexit on distributional flows.
There is a high level of demand for large-scale warehousing. Availability across Leicestershire is limited but there is some supply coming forward at Magna Park, a major logistics facility close to Coventry.
To understand future need is vital to consider the drive for de-carbonisation and the shift towards greater use of rail freight provision.

Findings were evidenced through extensive consultation with stakeholders and industry leaders. The report was completed in a relatively quick time frame to ensure the councils met their Local Plan review programmes.