News

A Croydon-based transport and warehousing firm has expressed an ambition to run the first retail consolidation centre in London.

PF Whitehead already runs home-delivery operations for retailers Ikea and B&Q from a site in Beddington, Surrey.

It is also a member of the Palletways network. Now it has  its eyes set on being the first traditional haulage operator to run a consolidation centre.

The firm hopes to set up a centre to handle deliveries into an area covered by the South London Freight Quality Partnership (SLFQP); this includes eight London Boroughs from Kingston in the West to Bromley in the East.

DHL-Exel has the most experience in this sector through its involvement in similar schemes in Bristol and at Heathrow Airport, but the bosses of PF Whitehead are confident that they can handle any potential scheme.

Operations director Peter NJ Whitehead says: "We just want to offer something different. It could have a big impact."

MD Peter Whitehead, who set up the business over 40 years ago, adds: "We're a local, hands-on company and we can see the benefits for the local  community. Far fewer vehicles would be running into town centres, with fewer emissions and less congestion."

He also expects operators delivering into the area to benefit from reduced journey times.

The SLFQP is being co-ordinated by transport consultancy Transport & Travel Research; senior associate Dr Alan Lewis says an initial trial scheme could start in the next financial year. It would be centred on the London Borough of Sutton before being extended to Croydon and Bromley.

Lewis is investigating funding for the trial and co-ordinating feasibility studies among local retailers: "Assuming the funding is there, it's not a question of if, but where and when."

Transport for London has backed congestion centres in its latest freight plan. But so far the only trial project is the Construction Consolidation Centre at Bermondsey.