TRANSPORT chiefs in Solihull have called for businesses to join trials of ‘low carbon’ home deliveries.
Delivery firms could benefit from part of up to £3 million of funding which is supporting the trials.
Following the coronavirus lockdown, the council says it has focused on decarbonising deliveries of shopping and takeaways in the borough.
Its Low Carbon Future Mobility project aims to use technology to reduce carbon emissions from short journeys.
Officers believe the project has the potential to reduce and share trips in Solihull.
A Solihull Council spokesman told the Observer: “As part of the wider UK Central Solihull programme, the project aims to delivery infrastructure projects to support sustainable and inclusive growth and complement connectivity associated with the HS2 Interchange.
“Recognising the environmental benefits of a shift away from single occupancy vehicles, the Low Carbon Future Mobility project is focused on identifying and addressing real-world transport challenges.
“By harnessing data collected across multiple sources and working alongside partners and local residents the project will identify opportunities for trialing innovative transport solutions. This could range from relatively minor interventions such as adopting low carbon delivery services, or involve more radical ideas such as exploring the use of multi-occupancy self-driving pods in our transport system.”
Technology trials are being piloted by Transport for the West Midlands, alongside local transit firms.
The council added it hopes to work with local businesses on delivering shopping and food as demand increases during the coronavirus pandemic.
Its spokesman said: “We are also looking to conduct some targeted engagement with local residents soon, to better understand how and why car / van journeys are made in and around their neighbourhoods, what’s important to them, and what they’d like to see changed.
“The Low Carbon Future Mobility project will form part of a wider strategic approach we are developing to decarbonising the borough in line with the council’s Climate declaration ambitions of Net Zero for the council’s own operations by 2030 and Net Zero for the wider borough by 2041.”
