Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 19)

16.31. New freight railways and rail sidings could present an economic opportunity for Dudley businesses. Improved journey times on the highway network will support economic prosperity and switching traffic to rail or inland waterways will relieve the highway network of traffic, thereby reducing congestion and improving air quality and protecting the environment. The siting of businesses producing heavy flows of freight vehicles in locations with good access to the principal highway network will also assist with environmental improvement. Improvements to the freight network are a significant element to achieving environmental transformation and economic prosperity.

16.32. Heavy Goods Vehicles account for 20% of all transport emissions with Light Duty Vehicles accounting for 17%^[68], meaning the road freight sector contributes 37% of transport emissions, despite freight representing just 23% of all vehicle miles undertaken in the UK^[69]. Making the most efficient use of the highway network whilst providing facilities to transfer freight from road to rail and inland waterways will play a major part in achieving the region's climate change targets.

16.33. Within the Black Country, freight traffic has always been particularly important reflecting the area's past level of manufacturing and it remains significant today with industry, distribution and logistics giving rise to much freight traffic. This is reflected in both the M5 and M6 motorways, where the proportion of heavy goods vehicles can be 30% of total traffic, and the local road network, where the traffic on many main routes have an exceptionally high percentage of heavy goods vehicles.

16.34. The design and layout of much of the KRN dates from a period when goods vehicles were significantly smaller and lighter than those currently in use and this gives rise to problems of reliability and with deliveries and servicing. In many cases upgrading of these routes is neither economically viable nor environmentally desirable.

16.35. Dudley Council is a member of the West Midland's Freight Quality Partnership, as are freight operators and their national representative bodies. The Regional Freight Strategy (2016) sets a context for planning for freight within Dudley. Removal of freight from the road to rail or canal will reduce congestion, and support investment in rail and canals.

16.36. The railway network serving the region suffers from capacity problems during the day when there is high demand for passenger services, and this has shifted much freight traffic to night-time operation. Of the disused lines the most important is Stourbridge-Walsall-Lichfield, which has been identified in the Regional Freight Strategy as being an important link for freight moving between the southwest and northeast regions. Within the West Midlands conurbation, the Stourbridge to Lichfield link would act as a bypass for the rail network around Birmingham which has severe capacity constraints. The capacity released by the reopening of Stourbridge-Walsall-Lichfield link would allow extra passenger services to operate to and through Birmingham to the benefit of the wider West Midlands.

16.37. The Regional Freight Strategy notes a shortage of private sidings in the West Midlands Region. Sites with existing or potential rail access along existing and proposed freight routes particularly Stourbridge to Walsall and Walsall to Lichfield will be protected for rail related uses.

16.38. The Freight Strategy notes the need to address the increased importance of 'last mile' logistics and the role that transport innovation can play in this, e.g., parcel hubs, e-cargo bikes, micromobilitiy and EV charging facilities for sustainably fuelled delivery vehicles.

^[68] Department for Transport (2023). Transport and environment statistics: 2023. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/transport-and-environment-statistics-2023/transport-and-environment-statistics-2023

^[69] Department for Transport (2023) Road Traffic Estimates in Great Britain 2022L Traffic in Great Britain by Vehicle Type. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/road-traffic-estimates-in-great-britain-2022/road-traffic-estimates-in-great-britain-2022-traffic-in-great-britain-by-vehicle-type