British Land secures planning for green Paddington logistics hub

British Land has gained planning permission for a 121,000sq ft logistics hub in Paddington, London, which the developer estimates will remove around 100 large vans from Westminster’s roads every day.

The facility, located at 5 Kingdom Street, Paddington, will provide inbound access to HGVs with outbound deliveries via smaller electric vehicles and electric cargo bikes.

The former Crossrail works site will serve the whole of Westminster, with British Land estimating it will cut annual carbon emissions by up to 90%.

The hub is expected to save three times the carbon absorbed by all the trees in Hyde Park. British Land also estimates the site will create over 500 new jobs and training opportunities.

The announcement follows the recent publication of research by Centre for London and University College London, commissioned by British Land, in response to the demand for last-mile deliveries in city centre locations.

The research found that London was particularly challenging when it comes to urban logistics, with its centre some distance from out-of-town hubs and traffic congestion often leading to delays.