Why The Box in Paddington is leading urban logistics solutions

“Online retail sales across Europe as a whole are expected to grow by 42% between 2022 and 2027.” City Logistics, Cushman & Wakefield

Urban logistics – how you move goods around a busy and bustling city quickly, easily, cost effectively and sustainably – is a big issue facing all businesses right now as online shopping and consumers (especially in London) power one of the world’s biggest areas of growth.

Whether it’s brands delivering direct, couriers dropping off at collection points, landlords in need of sustainable delivery solutions or businesses looking for multi-use storage space, according to a new in-depth report called City Logistics by Cushman & Wakefield what cities need are smart, creative and flexible logistics solutions that reflect:

• Their unique personalities: the geographical restrictions, population and infrastructure.
• The people who live and work in Europe’s cities who demand cost-effective, sustainable and high-quality delivery.
• The businesses striving for best-in-class service and environmentally friendly solutions (for example, e-bikes and electric vehicles have up to 90% lower carbon emissions, are 1.6x faster than vans in traffic).
• Smart operating costs (its analysis reveals that distributing parcels from an edge of city location can have an overall operating cost that is 9% higher than for the inner location).

London’s leading logistic spaces and distribution hubs to rent in Zone 1

The report underlines the market dynamics that have shaped why British Land has used its expertise in the development of multi-use and sustainable places to create London Urban Logistics.

These are multi-use logistics, distribution and storage hubs available across Zone 1 within the M25 to rent which aim to provide the fastest and cleanest solutions for London.

The Cushman & Wakefield City Logistics report specifically highlights London Urban Logistics’ The Box in Paddington as an innovative, forward-thinking solution to urban logistics in Europe thanks to its purpose-built role within British Land’s popular Paddington Central campus explaining:

“The Box, Paddington, a 12,100 sqm logistics hub… represents not only an ultra-urban logistics location but a scheme that seeks to bring logistics operations into the fabric of a mixed-use environment.”

The report also highlights how The Box provides:

Excellent sustainability as a purpose-built solution in the heart of London

“The facility will be served by HGVs for inbound deliveries with outbound deliveries by smaller electric vehicles and cargo bikes, for which there are up to 200 spaces available. Operations at the scheme are expected to remove around 100 vans from Westminster’s roads each day, reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions.”

Leading costs and efficiency

“By locating so closely to the market to serve, users of the facility will also enjoy the potential costs advantage that proximity and efficiency of operations can deliver.”

To find out more about current urban logistics demands, challenges, solutions and trends across Europe that could affect your business including:

• Edge of city vs inner city locations in terms of cost, the environment and service.
• Consumer habits and considerations such as sustainability and delivery.
• The loss of locations within cities for industrial development and how to counter it.
• The importance of creative thinking and cross-stakeholder collaboration.

Download the 2024 City Logistics report by Cushman & Wakefield.

To find out how we can help you deliver across London at The Box, Paddington and our other central locations, please contact us.