Construction logistics and traffic plan
A plan for how deliveries, vehicles and site access will be managed during construction.
About this service
Building in London means working on streets that are already busy. Deliveries of steel, concrete and plasterboard, skips, muck-away lorries and contractors' vans all compete for space with residents, schoolchildren, cyclists and buses. A construction logistics and traffic plan sets out how this will be managed, so the council can be confident the works will not cause unnecessary danger or disruption.
Councils commonly attach a planning condition requiring a plan before work starts, particularly for basements, new-build homes, demolition and schemes on narrow residential streets. The plan covers delivery routes and timings, where vehicles will stop and unload, how pedestrians will be kept safe and how neighbours will be kept informed. Where a site is on or near a red route, Transport for London will also take an interest.
We prepare plans for homeowners, developers and contractors, working from the proposed construction method and programme. A plan works best when the contractor has had a say, because it must be followed on site and checked by the council if neighbours complain. Where the condition asks for a wider document covering noise, dust and working hours, our construction management plan input covers those aspects alongside the logistics.
When you need it
- A planning condition requires a construction logistics or traffic management plan
- The site is on a busy or narrow street
What's included
- Delivery routes and timings
- Site access and loading arrangements
- Measures to protect pedestrians and neighbours
How it works
- Understand the worksWe review the planning conditions, construction method and programme, and identify the main phases, such as demolition, excavation, frame and fit-out, with their likely vehicle types.
- Survey the streetWe review road widths, parking bays, footways, nearby schools and junctions, weight or width restrictions, and the best place for vehicles to stop and unload.
- Plan routes and loadingWe set out approach and departure routes, delivery hours, loading arrangements, any parking bay suspensions, and the use of banksmen to manage vehicle movements safely.
- Protect pedestrians and neighboursWe specify footway protection, hoarding and scaffold arrangements, measures for vulnerable road users, and how neighbours will be informed of the programme and how any complaints will be handled.
- Issue for approvalWe issue the plan with drawings, ready for submission to discharge the condition, and update it if the council requests changes or the contractor's method changes before work starts.
What you receive
Licences and permissions the plan will rely on
A logistics plan describes intentions, but on site you will also need separate permissions from the highway authority. Skips, scaffolding and hoardings on the highway usually need licences, parking bays may need formal suspension, and larger lifts might require a temporary road closure. Each has its own lead time and fee. The plan should show where these will be used, so the contractor can apply in good time.
Narrow streets need the most thought. If a lorry cannot turn, it may have to reverse in under supervision, or deliveries may need smaller vehicles making more trips. Timing deliveries around school runs and rush hours is common. Where the building itself needs propping or staged demolition, the logistics plan should match the temporary works arrangements so the two documents tell the same story.
Frequently asked questions
What is a construction logistics plan?
It is a document explaining how construction traffic will be managed for a development, covering delivery routes, timings, loading, site access, and measures to protect pedestrians and neighbours. Councils often require one through a planning condition, and Transport for London has published guidance on what such plans should include.
When is a construction traffic management plan required?
Usually when a planning condition asks for one, which is common for basements, demolition, new-build schemes and sites on narrow or busy streets. Some councils ask for a combined construction management plan that also covers noise and dust. The condition wording tells you what is needed and when it must be approved.
Can I suspend parking bays for deliveries?
Usually, by applying to the council for a parking bay suspension in advance. Fees and notice periods vary by borough. A construction logistics plan should show where suspensions will be needed and for how long, so the council can judge the overall impact and the contractor can apply in good time.
How much does a construction logistics plan cost?
Our construction logistics and traffic plan starts from £950 + VAT. Larger sites, complex phasing or TfL involvement increase the fee. We confirm a fixed fee in writing before any work starts, along with the turnaround, which is typically 10 working days.