CROSS RIVER PARTNERSHIP AND WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL LAUNCH 6-MONTH MICRO LOGISTICS HUB TRIAL WITH INFINIUM LOGISTICS TO SUPPORT LOCAL ZERO-EMISSION DELIVERIES

Cross River Partnership (CRP), a non-profit and impartial partnership organisation, and Westminster City Council (WCC), are excited to launch their new six-month micro logistics hub trial in Pimlico, on 17^th April, to support zero-emission last-mile deliveries in the City of Westminster.

This is a CRP and WCC-funded trial, supported by Infinium Logistics, and carried out by Delivery Mates zero-emission couriers. The project is part of the Defra-funded Clean Air Logistics for London (CALL) programme, which aims to move more freight into London via river rather than road, supported by zero emission delivery methods and micro logistics hubs in Central London.

Online purchases will be delivered by electric cargo bikes. Based in the Q-Park Pimlico parking facility, the hub will receive parcels from an electric delivery vehicle and then distribute them by electric cargo bikes in Westminster and the surrounding area.

Micro logistics hubs are small, secure spaces that couriers and operators can use to receive, sort, and send deliveries in central locations, ideally by cargo bike or walking porters, to support zero-emission last-mile deliveries in the City of Westminster. Infinium Logistics, whose mission is to decarbonise, electrify and optimise the first to last mile delivery sectors, have created the Hyperlocal Logistics Hub within Q-Park Pimlico on Cumberland Street. The area has had security fencing erected, entrance gates, and the necessary electrics installed to allow the secure park and charge of e-cargo bikes and dedicated space to carry out distribution activities.

The micro-hub acts as a crucial step for consolidating deliveries, bulk-buying, and a place to sort deliveries, which can reduce the number of polluting vehicle trips and congestion. It is estimated that cargo e-bikes will deliver about 2,000 parcels a day from the hub to residents and businesses, thereby reducing congestion, pollution, and fatalities.

Delivery Mates, the company appointed to run the hub, will receive goods on electric vehicles at the micro logistics hub and then deliver them on electric cargo bikes to the local area. Loading and unloading will take place within the car park to respect residents' wellbeing and keep noise levels at minimum. Delivery Mates operate five existing hubs in London and have share important data and insights, such as CO₂ emissions savings and the number of parcel collections and deliveries.

Researchers at the University of Westminster used GPS data to compare routes taken by cargo bikes in London with routes that vans would have to take to deliver the same parcels. Results show that services provided by cargo bikes in London are 1.61 times faster than that performed by van, which in a year saves over 14,500kg of CO₂ and over 20kg of NOx (nitrogen oxides).

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Cabinet Member for City Management and Air Quality, said:"Westminster has some of the worst air quality in London and making improvements to reduce pollution and emissions is a key priority for us. We're taking steps to reduce petrol or diesel car travel where we can, and this new micro-logistics hub operating in the heart of Westminster has an important part to play in this by promoting healthy, greener and more efficient deliveries in our city and so we can build a fairer environment in Westminster for everyone."

Amarjit Pall, Hyperlocal Hubs Channel Director, Infinium Logistics, said:"We are delighted to work with all the parties involved in getting this trial operational. We can see that Cargo Bikes are becoming increasingly popular inner-city sustainable solution for final mile collection and delivery, that is why the number of hubs we operate continues to expand in the UK and throughout other parts of Europe. The stats prove it's the right way to go with the average diesel van emitting 241g CO₂per km. By comparison, cargo bikes have zero tailpipe emissions!"

Kevin Savage, Chief Operating Office at Delivery Mates said:"We are hugely proud to be working with all the partners on this exciting project. Opening a Micro Logistics Hub in Pimlico will further strengthen Delivery Mates capability to deliver sustainable logistics to customers, residents and local retailers. We look forward to playing a part in reducing congestion, removing emissions and creating a safer delivery environment for all stakeholders within Westminster." 

Adam Bidder, Managing Director of Q-Park UK, said:"Q-Park have been at the forefront of the European Parking industry in the creation of Sustainable Mobility Hubs. Our aim is to develop parking facilities into vital instruments to help realise urban accessibility, sustainability and liveability. We are therefore delighted for our latest scheme with Infinium Logistics and Westminster Council is being launched."

Susannah Wilks, Director, Cross River Partnership, said:"CRP is delighted to deliver this 6-month micro logistics hub trial with Westminster City Council, Infinium Logistics and Delivery Mates. This forms part of the Defra-funded Clean Air Logistics for London programme and aims to better air quality across the City of Westminster."

For more information on this trial, please contact CRP Project Manager Isidora Rivera Vollmer (isidorariveravollmer@crossriverpartnership.org) or WCC Media Team (mediateam@westminster.gov.uk).

ENDS

April 2023

NOTES TO EDITORS

• This is Westminster City Council funded trial in partnership withCross River Partnership, a non-profit and impartial partnership organisation, supported byInfinium Logistics, and carried out byDelivery Mateszero-emission couriers. The project is part of theDEFRA-fundedClean Air Logistics for London(CALL) programme, which aims to move more freight into London via river rather than road, supported by zero emission delivery methods and micro logistics hubs in Central London.
• The hub is a fenced-off 750 sq ft Infinium LogisticsHyperlocal Logistics Hubwithin Q-Park Pimlico on Cumberland Street.
• This trial supports the delivery ofDEFRA's Clean Air Strategy,WCC's Fairer Westminster Strategy,WCC's Air Quality Action Plan(AQAP) as well asWCC's Freight, Servicing and Deliveries Strategy and Action Plan.

Request for Proposal: Operating a CRP-funded Logistics Hub in Westminster (Trial): https://crossriverpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WCC-Logistics-Hub-Brief-Dec-22-V2.pdf

CRP's Clean Air Logistics for London (CALL): https://crossriverpartnership.org/projects/clean-air-logistics-for-london/

Infinium Logistics' Hyperlocal Logistics Hubs: https://infiniumlogistics.com/hyperlocal/

Cross River Partnership

Cross River Partnership (CRP) is a partnership delivering environmental, economic and community focused projects. We support public, private and voluntary organisations to address creatively challenges around Air Quality, Transport, Placemaking and Wellbeing.

We are experts in delivering positive change. CRP has a history of over 27 years of achievements, spanning public, private, voluntary and community sectors.

CRP's vision is to make London a better place to live, work and visit. CRP is unlocking potential and transforming space across the logistics sector in London, to deliver solutions that make London fairer, greener and safer.

Clean Air Logistics for London

Clean Air Logistics for London (CALL) is a £1 million Defra-funded project led by Westminster City Council in collaboration with 10 project partners. The project aims to move more freight into London via river rather than road, supported by zero emission delivery methods in Central London. CALL is building on the success of CRP's Clean Air Villages 4 programme.

Alongside this micro hub logistics trial, CRP has also carried out the London Light Freight River Trial and will soon launch the London Light Freight Walking Trial in The Fitzrovia Partnership, as part of CALL.

Westminster City Council

Westminster City Council is the local authority for the City of Westminster in Greater London, England. The city is divided into 20 wards, each electing three councillors. The council is currently composed of 31 Labour Party members and 23 Conservative Party members.

Infinium Logistics

Infinium Logistics is a global asset management and solutions business leading the energy transition of commercial transport. Responding to the challenges of rising ecommerce, climate change and the geopolitical energy crisis, it is investing hundreds of millions across Europe to accelerate the decarbonisation of transport.  Headquartered in Richmond, London, the business has a team of professionals located across the UK and Europe who draw on deep sector experience across the logistics, car parking and property investment markets. 

Helping global logistics providers and fleet operators to solve a multitude of parking and fulfilment problems, a major focus includes transitioning entire fleets to EV and other renewable energy sources before the 2030 ICE ban and creating hyperlocal logistics hubs to support the growth of cargo bikes as an alternative method of sustainable collection and delivery transport. As a market leader in ESG and with a focus on innovation, Infinium's range of parking, fulfilment and technology-enabled solutions allow our customers to reach theirs faster, in a cleaner, greener, more efficient way. 

Delivery Mates

Delivery Mates is the trading name of OTL Omega Telematics and Logistics Limited. The company started in 2013 to provide innovative final mile delivery solutions, specialising in providing flexible, compliant, reliable, and cost-effective delivery service, which continues today. DM was one of the first companies to allow its customers to choose to operate last-mile deliveries using a range of electric vehicle types, EV Vans and eCargo Bikes. Their mission is to become a leader in sustainable urban logistics, applying sustainable and innovative growth to business and society.

Q-Park

Q-Park is one of the three leading providers of parking facilities in West Europe, whether wholly owned, leased, managed or in a hybrid business model.  Q-Park is notable for its quality approach and has a portfolio comprising over 640,000 parking spaces in over 3,300 parking facilities in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, France, Ireland, and Denmark. Q-Park has numerous mobility hubs which provide access to a variety of mobility solutions. We house and support a range of activities from last mile logistics, fleet charging hubs, micromobility and car sharing services which help support urban accessibility, sustainability and liveability.

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