In partnership with Southwark Council, kerbside management company Grid Smarter Cities has announced that the pioneering kerbside management scheme on Walworth Road has now been made permanent.
This groundbreaking initiative is the first-of-its-kind and sets a new standard for urban logistics and kerbside management, transforming how kerb space is used.
The company’s Kerb® solution was introduced in February 2024 enabling freight drivers to book their kerbside loading slots in advance. Delivery drivers book a slot using the Kerb® app, and when they arrive, the space is available for them to pull straight in – meaning no loitering in the carriageway or circling the roads. Grid Smarter Cities has even developed with GDS a two-sided, e-ink digital sign to go on the kerbside which integrates with the platform to display the booked vehicle’s details, including its registration number and time slot.
Following a successful trial and after just 12 months of the initial 18-month experimental traffic order, the project has proven to be very effective along the high street, improving access and efficiency as-well-as reducing congestion and parking stress.
Kerb® app in use on Walworth Road
“Grid Smarter Cities is proud of the Southwark Council partnership delivering the world’s first high street bookable loading bays, showcasing practical innovation in action,” commented Neil Herron, CEO and Founder at Grid Smarter Cities. “This implementation has moved the needle on freight delivery and servicing activity from a first come first served free for all into an ordered and managed bookable kerbside service embraced by businesses, operators and enforcement and improving compliance. The future of the kerbspace is digital and dynamic and it is exciting to see tomorrow’s world being delivered today.”
Cllr James McAsh, Southwark Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets and Waste, said: “We’re proud to be leading the way with this innovative approach. This benefits local businesses, reduces parking stress and congestion, and makes life easier for delivery drivers too. It supports our Streets for People plans which are all about making Southwark’s streets cleaner, greener and safer.”
Dynamic signage on Walworth Road displaying booking information
Over the last year, Grid has worked closely with Southwark Council on a positive partnership approach to enforcement, enabling a swift transition from penalty-based enforcement towards a more compliance-based approach, ensuring kerbside space is used to its maximum potential.
The scheme manages 5 loading bays across 2 sides of the road accompanied by dynamic on-street signage. Managed via the ‘Kerb®’ platform, registered drivers can make and manage bookings to secure a space prior to delivery, eliminating the need for circling leading to improved efficiency and reduced congestion. To complement this offering for larger fleets, a web-based platform is also available to support fleet operations staff in managing logistics movements remotely.
Since the start of the project, the bays have seen a huge increase in usage and compliance, with 26 weekly users delivering to over 15 stores, the scheme has achieved a 90%+ utilisation rate, far exceeding initial expectations set out at the start of the project.
How to Use the Bays
The bays are live and bookable by delivery operators in the area who register in advance. There are no charges to use the bays and bookings can be made throughout 24 hours of the day. To sign up and start using the bays please register using this link or email us at [email protected]
Notes on the scheme:
- 5 bookable bays with adjunct loading options (virtual bays) with 4 double-sided signs
- 2 bays on the North side of the street and 3 bays on the South side of the street
- 0-15, 15-30, 30-45, 30-60, minute booking loading slots (longer than usual 20 minutes, bookings on the platform can be made in 15-minute increments)
- There are no charges to use the bays at any time of day
- One bespoke parking bay sized to meet the length and width requirements of a HGV freight vehicle is available on the North side of the road (to enable servicing to the nearby supermarket)
- The bays can still be used for 24hrs a day, enabling freight operators to deliver to local businesses with greater flexibility and certainty
About Grid Smarter Cities:
We specialise in building sustainable digital products that enable the smarter management of kerbside and freight logistics. Our knowledge of the ecosystem at the kerbside enables us to work with clients such as local authorities and operators to solve their challenges and with a tech solution at the kerbside.
