UCCs can improve air quality in towns and cities, says TSC

Urban consolidation centres (UCCs) can help UK local authorities meet air quality obligations through the reduction of goods vehicle miles in urban areas, says the Transport Systems Catapult (TSC). These centres could also help improve congestion, the research and technology organisation adds. UCCs are logistics facilities where goods are dropped off and combined onto commercial vehicles for delivery to their final destination. TSC applied its economic assessment tool to estimate the cost and benefi
July 17, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Urban consolidation centres (UCCs) can help UK local authorities meet air quality obligations through the reduction of goods vehicle miles in urban areas, says the 7800 Transport Systems Catapult (TSC). These centres could also help improve congestion, the research and technology organisation adds.


UCCs are logistics facilities where goods are dropped off and combined onto commercial vehicles for delivery to their final destination.

TSC applied its economic assessment tool to estimate the cost and benefits of moving towards a logistics consolidation model at the University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust.

The case study showed deliveries could be reduced from 867 a week to 25 by using the UCC operated by Meachers Global Logistics.

Uptake of UCCs has been low in the UK due to the associated costs of establishing and running an extra step in the logistics supply chain.

Andrew Traill, the TSC’s principal technologist for freight and logistics, says more 'outside the box' thinking such as this need to be reconsidered by towns and cities facing increasing congestion and the need to reduce emissions.

“Ultimately, this model can lead to cleaner towns and cities and more efficient deliveries, whilst producing a much-needed relief to road systems which are struggling with traffic volumes,” Traill adds.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • University of Southampton wins IAM RoadSmart award 2017
    October 5, 2017
    The University of Southampton has won and become the first recipient of the first IAM RoadSmart Human Factors Research Award (£50, 000). The money will help fund a PhD student project for research into the training implications for drivers as vehicles become more automated. The winning submission, ‘Training Implications for Drivers of Automated Vehicles’, was written by students Neville Stanton and Katie Plant.
    Read More
  • ITS (UK) group launched to channel professional thinking into MaaS market
    April 25, 2017
    ITS (UK) has held its first forum on the topic of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), simultaneously launching a new interest group dedicated the subject. The organisation has identified MaaS as a key deliverable of ITS technologies and, although many of the concept’s constituent parts, such as connected vehicles, local authorities, road user charging and public transport, are covered by other working groups, ITS (UK) feels there is a demand for specific meetings to discuss and develop MaaS in the UK. The initial
    Read More
  • Developer selected for Dallas Airport freeway project
    June 2, 2014
    Traffic relief is on the way for North Texas motorists who rely on SH 183, the airport freeway in Dallas and Tarrant counties. The Texas Transportation Commission has awarded a contract to Southgate Mobility Partners to develop much-needed improvements on up to 28 miles of roadway. Listed in the Texas Department of Transportation's 100 Most Congested Roadways, segments of SH 183 are used by nearly 170,000 vehicles daily.
    Read More
  • Platform announcement: public transport is running 10 years behind schedule
    March 10, 2023
    Public transport worldwide is under pressure on a variety of fronts. Jon Salmon of Snapper Services UK explains why the industry should look more at data – and pick up some tips from the retail sector
    Read More

Highlighted Content