Representation by Royal Mail Group Limited (Royal Mail Group Limited)
- Date submitted
- 14 June 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Royal Mail Group Limited (Royal Mail) supports the Cory Decarbonisation Project but is seeking to ensure that its road-based operations are not adversely impacted by construction traffic and any changes to local highway capacity during the scheme’s construction phase. The nearest Royal Mail operational properties (Abbey Wood Delivery Office, SE28 0AW and London SE Parcelforce, DA1 4QX) are within approximately 2 miles of the scheme’s DCO boundary. These operational facilities rely on frequent use of the local road network on a daily basis. Therefore, Royal Mail wishes to draw its operational obligations and requirements to the attention of CEHL. Royal Mail is registering as an Interested Party to reserve its position to make further representations at the Examination, if required. Under section 35 of the Postal Services Act 2011, Royal Mail has been designated by Ofcom as a provider of the Universal Postal Service. Royal Mail is the only such provider in the United Kingdom. The Act provides that Ofcom’s primary regulatory duty is to secure the provision of the Universal Postal Service. Ofcom discharges this duty by imposing regulatory conditions on Royal Mail, requiring it to provide the Universal Postal Service. The Act includes a set of minimum standards for Universal Service Providers, which Ofcom must secure. The conditions imposed by Ofcom reflect those standards. Royal Mail’s performance of the Universal Service Provider obligations is in the public interest and should not be affected detrimentally by any statutorily authorised project. Accordingly, Royal Mail seeks to take all reasonable steps to protect its assets and operational interests from any potentially adverse impacts of proposed development. Royal Mail’s postal sorting and delivery operations rely heavily on road communications. Royal Mail’s ability to provide efficient mail collection, sorting and delivery to the public is highly sensitive to changes in the capacity of the highway network. Royal Mail is of the view that the construction phase of the Cory Decarbonisation Project has potential to impact on its operational interests, especially when combined with the cumulative highways impact of other major developments in the area. To protect Royal Mail’s position, it is requested that wording is added to the Outline Construction Transport Management Plan (OCTMP) to secure the following mitigations, with particular regard to Royal Mail’s local operational properties as identified above: 1. the OCTMP includes specific requirements that during the construction phase Royal Mail is notified by CEHL or its contractors at least one month in advance on any proposed road closures / diversions / alternative access arrangements, hours of working; 2. where road closures / diversions are proposed, CEHL or its contractors liaise with Royal Mail at least one month in advance to identify and make available alternative highway routes for operational use, where possible; and 3. cumulative highways impact from other major developments in the local area is fully addressed during the Examination. Any questions of Royal Mail should be sent to: Holly Trotman (holly.trotman@royalmail.com), Senior Planning Lawyer, Royal Mail Group Limited Daniel Parry Jones (daniel.parry-jones@realestate.bnpparibas), Director, BNP Paribas Real Estate