In London, the Construction Logistics Plan is the main way planning authorities control the effect of construction traffic. Most major schemes need two versions: an outline CLP with the planning application and a detailed CLP before work starts.
The outline CLP
The outline CLP shows the planning authority that construction can be delivered without unacceptable impacts on the road network or road safety. At that stage there is rarely a contractor appointed, so it sets out principles and estimates rather than detail. It usually covers:
- site context: surrounding roads, bus routes, cycle routes and sensitive receivers such as schools
- indicative site access, hoarding and loading arrangements
- an estimate of construction vehicle trips by phase
- preferred routes to and from the strategic road network
- the measures that will be used to reduce, retime and manage trips
- commitments to CLOCS and the Direct Vision Standard
The detailed CLP
The detailed CLP is normally a pre-commencement condition and is written once the contractor and construction method are known. It turns the outline commitments into firm arrangements:
- confirmed access points, gate positions and loading bays, shown on drawings
- vehicle types, sizes and swept paths where needed
- delivery booking systems and permitted delivery windows
- traffic marshalling and banksman arrangements
- highway licences, suspensions and temporary traffic orders needed
- coordination with neighbouring construction sites
- monitoring, reporting and the named person responsible
Measures that make a difference
The strongest CLPs show real thought about reducing and retiming trips, not just listing them. Common measures include:
- consolidation centres for small deliveries
- off-site manufacture and precast elements that reduce vehicle numbers
- out-of-hours deliveries where noise allows
- reuse of excavated material on site
- shared logistics with neighbouring sites
- delivery booking with penalties for unbooked arrivals
Common reasons for refusal
- trip numbers that do not match the construction method or programme
- routes that use residential streets or pass schools at peak times
- loading on the highway without the necessary licences
- no account of other sites working nearby
- missing commitments on vehicle safety standards
A detailed CLP prepared alongside the site logistics plan and programme avoids most of these, because the trips, phases and loading arrangements all come from the same source.