The success of this policy depends critically on having land available in the right locations to create a functional and hierarchy of break-out/consolidation centres around the region.
– The site should be able to operate around the clock without causing undue disturbance to any nearby residents.
– Site locations should support the most efficient movement of freight, minimising vehicle-mileage associated with moving freight, especially in HGVs and MGVs.
– Access roads need to be appropriate for the number, size and weight of vehicles entering and leaving the site.
– Non-motorised user routes connected to the site must be sufficiently wide and safe for cargo bikes to use.
Sites meeting the above criteria should be identified in the Local Plan for:
– Major hubs on the strategic road network.
– Hubs for processing rail-born freight.
– Smaller hubs to serve all parts of Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire villages.
Land within the Girton Interchange could be a prime location for the principal road-freight hub for Cambridge. It would require additional slip ramps to be built to enable direct access from the A14 east, A428 and M11.