Councillor Jim Glen was at the launch of a new micro logistics hub in the Q-Park carpark on Warwick Way.
This six-month trial was funded by central Government and facilitated by the Cross River Partnership in association with Westminster Council.
The aim is to improve air quality and reduce traffic by consolidating deliveries and providing a place to sort parcels for onward delivery by electric cargo bikes. It is estimated that the hub will deliver around 2,000 parcels a day.
Delivery Mates the company appointed to run the hub will receive goods on electric vehicles and then deliver them on electric cargo bikes to the local area. Loading and unloading will take place within the car park to respect residents’ well being and keep noise levels to a minimum.
Researchers at the University of Westminster used GPS data from delivery companies to demonstrate that on average the e-cargo bikes are 1.6 times faster than a van and save over 14,500kg of carbon and other pollutants over a year.