A new report from London’s Cross River Partnership (CRP) highlights how digital kerbside management can transform freight operations and urban air quality. In collaboration with Grid Smarter Cities, CRP piloted a network of eight Virtual Loading Bays (VLBs) across London.
Kerbside Management Technology
Kerbside Management Technology is designed to dynamically manage urban kerb space, helping businesses and suppliers improve delivery operations, reduce congestion, and support cleaner air. At the heart of this approach are Virtual Loading Bays (VLBs): digitally designated kerbside spaces that require no physical signage or infrastructure. Through the Grid Kerb® booking platform, operators can pre-book these spaces to load and unload goods safely and efficiently.
By repurposing kerbside areas—usually restricted or used for other activities—at specific times of day, VLBs enable cities to make smarter use of limited urban space, balancing commercial needs with the goal of more sustainable and liveable streets.
The results are promising. Analysis shows that the VLB network reduced unnecessary vehicle kilometres travelled, directly contributing to improved air quality. Operators valued the guaranteed delivery space, which improved efficiency, cut congestion, and streamlined deliveries through a simple online booking system.
Trial learnings
Local authorities showed strong interest in exploring the use of kerbside space and testing innovative management approaches. The trial gave them the chance to gain hands-on experience with kerbside management technology without upfront costs, supported by CRP and Grid.
Virtual Loading Bays (VLBs) worked best where they addressed a clear delivery challenge or where an incentive encouraged operators to use them. Without these conditions, behaviour change among operators proved harder to achieve.
The effectiveness of VLBs also depends on building a wider network across a defined area or sector, such as brewery logistics or chain stores, so that operators with multiple delivery points can benefit consistently. This network effect is key to achieving lasting change in logistics practices.
Integrating kerbside management technology with traffic filter exemptions resulted in measurable reductions in emissions and congestion, while also creating a strong incentive to book and use VLBs, as demonstrated in the London Borough of Lambeth.
Finally, VLBs and the associated engagement process generated valuable data on delivery and servicing activity, providing useful input for local authority policies and projects. However, the quality of insights depends on regular and widespread use of VLBs; when bays are underused or inactive, the data picture becomes less complete.
When selecting suitable locations for Virtual Loading Bays (VLBs), it is important to assess existing highways regulations and restrictions, including Traffic Orders (both moving and static), loading rules, and pedestrian zones.
The trial showed that VLBs take time to become embedded in local logistics practices, often resulting in low usage during the initial months. Engagement and communication strategies need to be tailored to each location, focusing on nearby businesses and their suppliers. Direct contact with specific supplier representatives proved to be one of the most effective methods.
Data from the trials also revealed a mismatch between the maximum loading times permitted under local authority Traffic Orders and the actual time operators require—particularly for larger retail chains and brewery logistics, where unloading is more complex.
Many of the trial locations were chosen because they presented minimal disruption to existing loading patterns, residents, businesses, or council members. While this approach eased implementation, it also limited potential usage. Introducing VLBs in more challenging locations—where delivery pressures are higher—would likely have generated greater uptake, although this would have required longer consultation and implementation processes.
Growing momentum
The report also underscores growing momentum among local authorities to reimagine kerbside use. Councils involved in the trial (including the City of London Corporation and the boroughs of Camden, Lambeth, and Richmond upon Thames) see potential for scaling these innovative approaches to support both freight operators and the communities they serve.
This trial demonstrates that digitally managed kerbsides can ease pressure on busy high streets, lower emissions, and make city logistics more predictable. With clear appetite from both the logistics sector and local authorities, Virtual Loading Bays may soon become an integral part of how cities balance delivery needs with cleaner, safer streets.
Looking ahead, several opportunities stand out for the future application of Virtual Loading Bay (VLB) technology:
- Integration with enforcement software
- Use of VLBs as a potential revenue stream
- Embedding VLBs within future highway schemes
- Trialling VLBs alongside permit-based loading bays
- Digitisation of Traffic Orders and kerbside information
- Alignment with local authority policies and strategies
- Expanding VLB networks and standardising processes
The trial has shown that logistics operations and kerbside management cannot be treated in isolation. To ensure businesses continue to receive goods efficiently and sustainably, freight requirements must be fully integrated into both current practice and future planning for kerbside use.
The report recommends building on the trial by continuing to expand knowledge and experience of Virtual Loading Bays (VLBs) and kerbside management technology through structured, low-cost pilots. These should include testing integration with local authority enforcement systems and exploring new use cases, such as EV-only bays or schemes embedded at the planning stage.
A collaborative public–private approach is needed to digitise kerbside space in a way that is transparent, accessible, and comprehensive. Local authorities are encouraged to develop kerbside-specific strategies, reframing the kerbside as a flexible, multi-use asset.
National government and strategic agencies are asked to formally recognise kerbside management technology as a tool to support sustainable logistics and to embed it in future policy.
Further trials should refine methods for measuring emissions and congestion savings, generating more robust data on delivery trends, usage, and air quality impacts. These trials should also balance the needs of freight and logistics with wider sustainability priorities such as urban greening and sustainable transport parking.
Source: Cross River Partnership