The Thames Estuary Growth Board have published a report showing that the River Thames can be better used for middle-mile deliveries around London.

The report by the Thames Estuary Growth Board has shown that the river can be better used for large-scale freight deliveries of parcels, food, beverages and retail goods. This would in turn reduce congestion and air pollution in the London area.

The report suggests that at a small scale, river freight will not be competitive but if it handled just 3% of the 700 million parcels going into London it would become very competitive with road and rail.

“This is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss, as we continue to strive toward net zero and deliver the world’s cleanest, greenest estuary,” said Perry Glading, Deputy Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board.

Light river freight is becoming popular among some companies again, with DHL using the river for parcels and supplying Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust with medical supplies.

James Trimmer, Director of Planning and Environment for the Port of London Authority (PLA) said: “The Thames is home to the UK’s largest port and inland waterway and provides a sustainable and reliable, congestion free highway into the heart of the capital.

“The WSP report shows how ‘joining the dots’ between port and consumer is a very real possibility and one which will deliver manifest environmental and wider social benefits. At the PLA we’re working daily to turn this potential into reality.”