William Eichler 08 December 2022

Air quality campaigners warn of ‘dark stores’

Air quality campaigners warn of ‘dark stores’ image
Image: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com.

Air quality campaigners have called on levelling up secretary Michael Gove to tighten up regulations around last-mile delivery depots.

The Lorax Initiative, which investigates the online delivery landscape, says that the lack of regulation of last-mile delivery depots – or ‘dark stores’ – is a hazard for vulnerable people in urban areas because they contribute to increases in traffic, congestion and pollution as well as a decline in business for locally-owned businesses.

The campaign, formed after a legal battle against delivery giant Ocado’s plan to open a depot next to a London primary school, recommends that new warehouses must be at least 400 metres from facilities including schools, hospitals and care homes.

In its report, Making Ecommerce Growth Green, the Lorax Initiative also said that local councils should require a full planning permission process for all new warehousing facilities.

Andrew Grieve, director of the Lorax Initiative and Senior Air Quality Analyst, School of Public Health, Imperial College London said: ‘The unregulated growth of dark stores and micro fulfilment centres can’t continue. We must look seriously at how we protect communities and the vulnerable from the rise of 24/7 warehouses and dark stores.

‘Michael Gove must ensure that levelling up is about health as well as wealth. There is space for such depots but in the right places.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Early Help Family Practitioner - 12 month FTC

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
£39150.00 - £42861.00 per annum
Be the support that helps families find their strength and move forward.Be the support that helps families find their strength and move forward. As England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development

Swansea Council
£73,908 - £85,884
As Head of HR and OD Swansea (Abertawe)
Recuriter: Swansea Council

Early Help Practitioner

Durham County Council
Grade 6, £28,142 - £31,022 per annum
Durham County Council are on a continuous improvement journey in relation to its Early Help service. We are one of 75 Local Authorities who are part o Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Legal Clerical Assistant

Durham County Council
£26,403 to £28,598 p.a. (Grade 5)
A vacancy has arisen within Business Services for a full time, permanent Legal Clerical Assistant to provide legal clerical support to solicitors and Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Practice Coordinator

Durham County Council
Grade 13 - £47,181 - £51,356
Do you love supporting practitioners to bring their best selves to their work? We are looking for a Practice Coordinator to support our Social Worker Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner