Grid Smarter Cities is thrilled to announce our ongoing work as part of Cross River Partnership, Defra-funded, Smarter Greener Logistics Trial with a further 2 new Virtual Loading Bays (VLBs) on Kentish Town Road and Morwell Street in the London Borough of Camden.
Virtual Loading Bay located on Kentish Town Road in the London Borough of Camden
Using our kerbside management platform ‘Kerb®’, the bays will provide locations for suppliers in the local area to safely load and unload goods to the surrounding businesses, assisting with alleviating congestion and improving air quality in these densely populated communities.
A VLB is a digital dispensation which allows drivers to load and unload in close proximity to their delivery point at locations where loading is normally prohibited, without the risk of receiving a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
Laura Jacklin, Director – UK Sales at Grid Smarter Cities said:
“At Grid we are pleased to see this project expanding to service store fronts on busy high streets that benefit from better kerbside management facilitating efficient deliveries increasing visibility and safety for all. It is important that businesses get deliveries in harmony with active travel users, making the most efficient use of the congested urban space.”
Katherine Fairfax, Project Manager at Cross River Partnership said:
“Cross River Partnership (CRP) are delighted to launch 2 Virtual Loading Bays (VLBs) in the London Borough of Camden, adding to the growing network of VLBs being trialled across London. CRP’s Defra-funded Kerbside Management Trial provides an exciting opportunity to test Grid Smarter Cities’ innovative kerbside technology and monitor the impacts to local congestion and air quality.”
Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden, said:
“I’m pleased to see virtual loading bays being trialled in Camden. Not only will this improve efficiency for businesses, it will crucially help to free up kerbside space in congested areas and improve air quality – helping us move towards a greener and healthier borough.”
The expanding Smarter Greener Logistics Trial now hosts VLBs across 4 areas of London and are free to book and use for the remainder of 2024.
The trial is now live and available to book for the remainder of 2024!
If you are an interested delivery driver/operator in the Richmond Upon Thames area and would like to register to use the bays, please contact us at [email protected]
More about the scheme:
Cross River Partnership (CRP), an impartial partnership organisation, are excited to announce that 2 Virtual Loading Bays are now live in the London Borough of Camden. The 2 Virtual Loading Bays are located on Kentish Town Road and Morwell Street and will be available to book, free of charge, for the trial period to the end of 2024.
Virtual Loading Bays allow registered delivery drivers to pre-book dedicated space at the kerbside to load and unload using Grids ‘Kerb’ Delivery booking application.
The Virtual Loading Bays form part of CRP’s Kerbside Management Trial and is being delivered in partnership between the London Borough of Camden, Grid Smarter Cities and Cross River Partnership. The trial uses Grid’s Virtual Loading Bay technology to dynamically manage the kerbside and aims to improve congestion and air quality in the local area.
The Kerbside Management Trial is part of Smarter Greener Logistics (SGL) a Defra-funded project led by Westminster City Council in collaboration with 26 project partners. The project aims to minimise the impact of freight on noise, air quality, traffic and pavement space in London by making improvements across 14 London boroughs and two London Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).
About Grid Smarter Cities:
Grid Smarter Cities is a software solutions company with sector specific expertise in kerbside management and last-mile logistics. Grid has developed Kerb, a kerbside management platform to deliver a ‘win-win’ scenario for cities and commercial operators, helping to address key logistical challenges and global environmental issues at both the macro and micro level.
At Grid Smarter Cities we care about the future. We help resolve key logistical challenges and global environmental issues with smart but simple technological solutions. Often overlooked and undervalued, the Kerb emerges as a powerful asset with which to deliver positive environmental, social and economic outcomes for Kerb Owners and Kerb Users alike.
