SURFLOGH goes into extra time!

We are very pleased to announce that TRI’s programme of action research into last mile logistics is set to continue beyond the original SURFLOGH project end date of October 2021.  The consortium of which we are a member was successful in its application for a project extension with funding from the Steering Committee of the Interreg NSR Programme in Call 12.  This is a clear recognition of the consortium’s achievements so far and means we are now able to continue trialling and researching sustainable solutions for urban freight logistics into 2023.

Here at TRI, we very much look forward to building on the encouraging findings that have come out of the original Surflogh project and continuing to work with our partners in the Province of Drenthe, the South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran), and the Cities of Groningen, Mechelen and Borås.   The project extension could not come at a more timely moment, given the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions linked to it, which clearly exposed the urgent need for more, tailor-made inner-city logistics services and a restructuring of co-operations between all stakeholders.  The use of public space, or misuse of public space, has never been more apparent.  Quality of life requires cities to improved air quality, reduce noise, provide suitable accessibility to all and significantly improve road safety.   The key issue however is how can such goals be achieved without compromising the critical need for firms and the general population to receive goods and parcels? SURFLOGH is tackling this conundrum.

The project extension will allow the partners to set up eight further pilot initiatives associated with last mile logistics, which the team at TRi will be heavily involved in researching the evolution of the business models that were identified in an earlier part of the project.  We will also work closely with our key partner SESTran in feeding in the roadmaps to sustainable logistics that were developed at the first stage of the Surflogh project into the Perth West development, which will be the first in Scotland to use an integrated sustainable approach to logistics, energy, transport and housing.

More information on TRI’s involvement in SURFLOGH can be found here.