Logistics and the City: The Key Issue of Freight Villages

Abstract

Purpose – The aim of the chapter is to explore the link between logistics and territory, particularly at local scale with ‘freight villages’. This topic is a matter for transport economics and management as well as for urban and regional planning.

Methodology – The methodology of this research relies on the exploitation of existing limited literature and on a practical field experience, using contact with professionals as well as with local authorities, comparing logistics regional planning in China and France. The process of conception, building and operation of logistics premises and areas is analysed, identifying the private and public actors who take part to it, and the rationales guiding their actions.

Results and perspectives – The necessity to insert logistics into its spatial environment obeys evolving concerns: in an initial phase, the aim is mere quantitative growth of production, trade and freight; today, logistics facilities must contribute to the search for sustainable development. The exchange of experience and of best practices, linked with academic observation, feeds the continuation of research on this seldom-addressed topic.

Citation

LIU, X. and SAVY, M. (2012), "Logistics and the City: The Key Issue of Freight Villages", Mackett, R.L., May, A.D., Kii, M. and Pan, H. (Ed.) Sustainable Transport for Chinese Cities (Transport and Sustainability, Vol. 3), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 297-318. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2044-9941(2012)0000003016