Guidance & Support

A large new logistics warehouse in Milton Keynes has been completed, though the identity of the business set to move in has yet to be revealed. The development, known as Logistics City, is located on Michigan Drive in Tongwell, close to the M1, and is one of the biggest new industrial buildings completed in the area in recent years.

The 125,000 sq ft facility has been built on a six-acre site acquired by Kier Property in 2024. The previous warehouse and office buildings were demolished to make way for the new development, which includes modern Grade A office accommodation, a green roof and dedicated outdoor break-out space for staff. Its location offers strong transport links, making it attractive to logistics and distribution firms.

Kier Property says the building has been designed with sustainability at its core. The warehouse is targeting an EPC A+ energy rating and net zero carbon operation, alongside a minimum BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard, with scope to reach the highest ‘Outstanding’ rating in the future. These credentials reflect growing demand for environmentally responsible industrial space.

Speaking after completion, Kier’s head of industrial and logistics described the project as an important step for the company, highlighting its ability to deliver large-scale, high-quality developments. Kier Property continues to roll out its Trade City and Logistics City schemes across the UK, with sites already established or under way in locations including Hemel Hempstead, Bracknell, Manchester and St Albans. Despite strong interest, no announcement has yet been made about who will ultimately occupy the Milton Keynes site.

Drivers in Northern Ireland could soon see significant changes to speed limits following the launch of a wide-ranging review by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI). A 14-week public consultation opened on 14 January and will run until 22 April, inviting views on whether existing limits remain suitable and how they could be adjusted to improve road safety.

The review forms part of a broader effort to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads. Official figures show 56 fatalities last year, following 69 the year before. The DfI says excessive speed continues to be a major factor in serious collisions, particularly on rural roads, which account for a high proportion of deaths despite carrying lower traffic volumes.

Among the proposals being explored is a wider rollout of 20mph limits in residential and community settings, where evidence suggests slower speeds can make people feel safer. At present, Northern Ireland has relatively few such schemes, mostly limited to advisory zones or roads with traffic-calming features. The review also considers lowering speed limits on certain rural routes, especially single carriageways.

At the same time, the consultation looks at increasing speed limits for heavy goods vehicles. Options include raising HGV limits to 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways, bringing Northern Ireland into line with other parts of the UK. Officials argue this could improve traffic flow and reduce dangerous overtaking, though public feedback will help shape any final decisions.

The government has unveiled a wide-ranging road safety strategy that signals tougher expectations for businesses whose staff drive as part of their work. Legal experts say operators with strong training programmes and clear oversight of driver behaviour will be in a far safer position under the new approach.

The Department for Transport’s plan sets out an ambition to cut deaths and serious injuries on UK roads by 65% over the next ten years, rising to 70% for children under 16. Proposed measures include a review of the drink-drive limit, alongside sharper enforcement on drug-driving, speeding, mobile phone use and failure to wear seatbelts. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the strategy was designed to restart progress after years of stagnation.

One key element is the creation of a national road safety charter for work-related driving, which would outline minimum standards for employers. Although participation will initially be voluntary, lawyers warn it could quickly become the benchmark used by investigators and courts. Firms that fail to engage may be judged harshly following serious incidents, even before any formal regulation is introduced.

The strategy also places strong emphasis on using data to improve safety. While tools such as telematics can highlight risky behaviour, experts caution that ignoring warning signs could increase legal exposure. There is also a shift in language, replacing the word “accident” with “collision”, underlining a focus on accountability. Industry bodies have welcomed the plans and say they are ready to work with government to ensure the measures are practical and evidence-led.

Parcel locker specialist InPost has confirmed it is considering a takeover approach after receiving an initial, non-binding proposal from a group of investors. Reports suggest the consortium is led by private equity firm Advent International, which previously floated the company on the Amsterdam stock exchange in 2021 and remains a minority shareholder.

The Poland-based logistics group said it had seen unusual share price and trading activity before the approach was made. In response, InPost has created a special committee made up of senior supervisory and management board members to review the proposal and decide on next steps. The company, which is valued at more than €6bn (£5.2bn), has not commented on the terms or timing of any potential deal.

InPost has grown rapidly across Europe and the UK, delivering more than 350 million parcels in its latest quarter. In the UK, where it owns Yodel, the firm operates the country’s largest automated parcel machine network, with more than 11,000 lockers and almost 17,000 out-of-home collection and drop-off points. Its locker-based model has proved popular with retailers and online resale platforms, offering lower-cost and more flexible delivery options.

Market analysts say the bid may reflect an opportunistic move following a weak period for InPost’s share price. While the business faces challenges including slower growth in Poland, pricing pressure and a legal dispute with Allegro, it is still seen as a valuable asset. Speculation has also emerged over whether Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services could consider a counterbid, although competition concerns and integration risks remain significant hurdles.

UK-based international haulage firms could see stronger cross-border business this year as changes to EU freight and movement rules begin to reshape competition, according to the Road Haulage Association (RHA). The trade body says recent reforms are ending years of near-unrestricted access to the UK market by foreign-registered lorries, creating fresh opportunities for domestic operators.

An RHA analysis drawing on Office for National Statistics data shows that, over the past two decades, UK-registered heavy goods vehicles have generally carried more imports than exports, with overall volumes gradually declining. In 2024, the gap between imported and exported goods widened slightly, reaching 0.7 million tonnes. Despite this, international freight moved by UK-registered HGVs rose to 5.7 million tonnes, a 4 per cent increase on the previous year.

UK vehicles also made more cross-border journeys, with international trips rising by 2 per cent in 2024. While British lorries were once the most common vehicles operating into Europe, they now account for around 13 per cent of such trips, ranking second behind EU operators. Foreign-registered vehicles continue to dominate overall journeys, although their growth has slowed and the volume of goods they carried fell in 2023.

The RHA says EU hauliers are facing mounting pressures, including rising fuel and insurance costs, stricter environmental rules and a worsening driver shortage expected to reach 400,000 by 2026. As regulatory changes take effect, the association believes UK hauliers’ adaptability could give them a long-awaited competitive edge in 2026 and beyond.

Essex Police has begun using handheld thermal imaging devices to identify potential faults in lorry tyres, a technique the force believes is currently unique in England. The commercial vehicle unit, which previously relied on visual inspections alone, can now pinpoint abnormal heat patterns that signal tyre or hub problems before they escalate.

The technology allows officers to detect “hot spots” caused by issues such as overloading on a single axle or failing components. Overheated hubs can ignite, resulting in significant fires and traffic disruption on major routes. Police say the new approach gives them a chance to step in early, reducing the risk of serious incidents. When a problem is identified, drivers may have to organise repairs, or in the case of underinflated tyres, call out a mobile fitter.

Officers can also show thermal images directly to drivers to explain the findings. The force emphasised that tyre temperature plays a vital role in vehicle safety, influencing grip, handling and overall performance. Rubber needs to stay flexible enough to adapt to the road surface without becoming excessively hot and wearing out prematurely.

Essex Police encouraged all motorists to carry out basic tyre checks before travelling, adding that many drivers underestimate the importance of proper tyre maintenance. The force hopes the new tools will make roads safer by preventing avoidable breakdowns and fires.

Insite, previously known as HGVC, has revealed it has helped more than 4,500 new lorry drivers qualify through government-backed skills bootcamps, with most trainees moving straight into jobs. The company hailed the scheme as a major achievement, crediting it with supplying businesses across the UK with much-needed drivers.

The bootcamps, introduced by the Department for Education in 2021, offered heavily subsidised training for employers. Smaller firms were able to access courses with 90% of the costs covered, while larger organisations received 70% support. Insite became the largest provider, working with over 1,100 companies, and said more than half of all participants trained through a co-funded model. However, this year marked the end of central government funding.

James Clifford, Insite’s chief executive, said the closure of the scheme comes at a challenging moment for logistics companies. He explained that businesses were increasingly struggling to manage training across multiple sites, with complex supply chains making it harder to keep operations running smoothly. Without subsidised options, he warned, organisations were being pushed to rethink how they deliver essential skills development.

In response, Insite has broadened its services, now offering fully managed warehouse training, including forklift qualifications and introductory courses. Meanwhile, the Road Haulage Association has urged ministers to reinstate the bootcamps, citing research showing the UK needs 60,000 newly trained drivers every year to keep pace with demand.

A new ranking has identified the UK airports where travellers are most likely to face disruption during the festive season. With December remaining one of the peak months for international travel, millions of passengers pass through UK terminals in the run-up to Christmas. Using Civil Aviation Authority data from Christmas 2024, Quotezone.co.uk has produced its “Christmas Chaos Airport Index”, assessing the 14 busiest airports based on average delays, cancellation rates, long waits and passenger traffic.

Gatwick claimed the top spot as the most chaotic airport, reporting the longest average delay at 26 minutes – more than twice that recorded at East Midlands Airport. More than 20% of Gatwick flights ran over half an hour behind schedule. Manchester followed in second place, with average delays of 22 minutes and similarly high levels of extended waits. London Stansted came third, logging the highest proportion of long delays at just over 23%, although its cancellation rate was one of the lowest.

Heathrow, despite being the UK’s busiest airport, fared better than many might expect, recording an average delay of 18 minutes. In Scotland, Edinburgh was highlighted as the most disrupted airport overall, while Glasgow International had the highest cancellation rate across the index. London Luton, however, appeared near the bottom of the chaos rankings, with shorter delays and minimal cancellations despite serving more than one million passengers.

For travellers seeking the smoothest experience, East Midlands Airport proved to be the standout performer. It posted the lowest average delays, the fewest long waits and a cancellation rate of only 0.2%. As the UK braces for what is expected to be its busiest Christmas travel period on record, the findings may help passengers choose airports that offer a calmer and more reliable start to their festive journeys.

More than half a year after the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) updated its guidance on heavy goods vehicle brake assessments, TIP has confirmed that over 23,000 trailers across the UK are now equipped with its BrakePlus Electronic Braking Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS). The revised Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness requires braking systems to be evaluated at every service inspection, either through a traditional roller brake test or via verified data from an approved monitoring system.

With operators increasingly recognising the operational and financial advantages of EBPMS, reliance on regular workshop visits for roller brake tests has begun to decline. TIP’s commercial director, Karl Davies, noted that frequent trips off the road for testing can be disruptive and costly, prompting many fleets to adopt continuous monitoring instead. BrakePlus tracks braking force against deceleration in real time, providing early warnings of reduced effectiveness.

TIP emphasises, however, that EBPMS is not a substitute for physical roller brake testing. While BrakePlus highlights performance changes, it does not pinpoint specific axles or assess the parking brake. Roller brake tests remain essential for detailed diagnostics and are routinely carried out whenever the system flags a potential issue. They also continue to form a core part of annual MOT requirements.

The company reports strong industry uptake, with thousands more installations expected over the next six months, including on third-party trailers. TIP believes the growing adoption reflects the clear benefits of integrating continual braking performance monitoring into fleet safety practices.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that fuel duty will remain frozen until September 2026, before the government begins restoring the 5p-per-litre reduction and reintroducing yearly increases for the first time since 2011. The phased reversal is set to begin later in 2026, with the duty rising each April in line with RPI. According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the long-running freeze has cost the Treasury an estimated £120bn in foregone revenue.

Haulage and logistics bodies have reacted with alarm, cautioning that planned rises will place additional pressure on an already stretched supply chain. Richard Smith, managing director of the Road Haulage Association, said that while extending the freeze provides temporary relief, planned increases from 2027 risk delivering a “hammer blow” to operators and driving up everyday costs for families. Logistics UK went further, describing the move as an “inflationary timebomb”, warning that higher fuel duty would amount to hundreds of millions of pounds in extra tax for businesses and intensify inflationary pressures.

Fleet organisations echoed these concerns. The Association of Fleet Professionals criticised the 2026 rise as both unexpected and unwelcome, while FairFuelUK said that although an additional year’s freeze was positive, looming duty increases could weaken consumer confidence. The Budget also unveiled a new road-pricing system for electric vehicles from April 2028, with private EVs charged 3p per mile and plug-in hybrids 1.5p, adjusted annually with CPI. Electric vans will be exempt to encourage the shift to cleaner fleets.

Industry leaders stressed that rising fuel duty and future EV taxation must be accompanied by a stable, long-term transport funding strategy. They argue that clear policy direction is essential if operators are to commit to major investment in zero-emission vehicles and charging infrastructure.