Delivery Servicing Plans

What are DSPs?

DSPs help you to manage freight vehicle movement to and from individual buildings. They improve the safety and reliability of deliveries, help reduce congestion and minimise environmental impact.

What are the benefits?

DSPs can benefit you, your company and the local community. The advantages include:

• Reduced delivery costs and improved security
• More reliable deliveries = less disruption to the business day
• Time saved as you identify unnecessary deliveries
• Less noise and intrusion
• Opportunity to feed into a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme and ensure your operations comply with health and safety legislation

A DSP also benefits your freight operator:

• Legal loading areas mean less risk of them receiving penalty charge notices
• They can save fuel through reduced, re-timed or consolidated deliveries
• They can use vehicles more efficiently as delivery reliability will help them plan better

See our Case Study (PDF 361KB) to find out how TfL benefited from implementing DSP throughout one of our buildings.

Developing a DSP

You should draft a DSP as part of a transport assessment. They can be drafted retrospectively for existing buildings. Things to consider include:

• Looking at where safe and legal loading can take place
• Using freight operators who can demonstrate their commitment to best practice - for example, members of our Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS)
• Reducing numbers of journeys by managing deliveries differently
• Using your procurement processes to encourage more efficient deliveries
• Using more sustainable delivery methods - cycles rather than vans, for example, or requesting that your suppliers use electric vehicles

We're currently looking at the best ways to minimise the impact of freight activity on London's roads. Download our guide for more detail:

Managing freight effectively: Delivery and servicing plans (PDF 645KB)

Further information

If you have any queries on DSPs, or would like further advice on drafting a plan, email us.

If you work in construction, see Construction Logistics Plans for more information on improving freight activity to and from construction sites.