Micro-logistics hub to continue operating after successful trial

After a successful nine-month trial period, courier Delivery Mates and Q-Park UK have agreed to continue to independently operate from the Pimlico micro logistics hub for a minimum of 12 months.

The Cross River Partnership (CRP) and Westminster City Council funded trial, which aimed to support low-emission last-mile deliveries, was supported by Decarbon Logistics Solutions, and carried out by Delivery Mates low-emission couriers. It was part of the Defra-funded Clean Air Logistics for London (CALL) and Smarter Greener Logistics (SGL) programmes.

Based in the Q-Park Pimlico parking facility, the hub receives parcels from an electric van and then distributes them by electric cargo bikes in the City of Westminster and surrounding areas.

Micro logistics hubs are small, secure spaces that couriers and operators can use to receive, sort, and send deliveries in central locations, ideally by cargo bike or walking porters, to support zero-emission last-mile deliveries in the City of Westminster. They act as a crucial step for consolidating deliveries, which can reduce the number of polluting vehicle trips and congestion, thereby improving local air
quality.

After 9 months of operations, the e-cargo bikes travelled total distance of 22,578 km (14,029 miles), which led to significant emissions reductions of 4,186 kg of CO2, 15,141 g of NOx, and 303 g of PM2.5 when comparing the e-cargo bikes to polluting van deliveries on the last mile.

Cross River Partnership (CRP) is currently working on an in-depth report which will include detailed data, insights, learnings, and recommendations from the 9-month micro logistics hub trial in Pimlico. This will be published on CRP’s website in the coming months.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Cabinet Member for City Management and Air Quality, Westminster City Council, said: "We are immensely proud of the success of the Pimlico Micro Logistics Hub, which demonstrates the power of working together to tackle urban transport challenges. This project exemplifies our commitment to creating a greener, more sustainable economy while supporting local businesses and improving the quality of life for residents.

"Building on the success of the trial, Westminster City Council hopes to expand and replicate similar initiatives across the city to transform urban logistics and improve sustainability.”