This page displays the reports and documents produced by the Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme (QDDS) Project.  

 

Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme (QDDS)

The Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme (QDDS), developed by the consortium comprising the Department for Transport (DfT), the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Noise Abatement Society (NAS), has supported six quiet delivery demonstration trials at retail premises across England during 2010, to illustrate the potential benefits from curfew relaxations for quiet deliveries, whilst still protecting local residents from excess noise.

Out-of-hours deliveries to retail premises, comprising quiet deliveries at nighttime and also during the "shoulders" of the day (i.e. prior to opening, after closing), away from peak periods, potentially offer significant benefits to retailers and transport operators, in addition to wider social and environmental benefits.

The Scheme was being managed by freight specialists at transport consultants, Transport & Travel Research Ltd (TTR). 

 

The documents and guidance reports produced as part of the study can be seen below:

• Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme Final Project Report - Project Report, Annex 4, Annex 5 & Annex 6
• Guide for Retailers on 'out of hours deliveries' - QDDS Retailer Field Guide
• Guide for Local Authorities on 'out of hours deliveries' - QDDS Local Authority Field Guide
• QDDS Case Studies - QDDS Case Study Report 

 

Quiet Deliveries Demonstration Scheme – Final Project Report 

Forward from Mike Penning MP Minister for Freight

"For the first time, Government has worked together with the Freight Transport Association and the Noise Abatement Society to research the extent to which it is possible to relax delivery curfews without creating unacceptable disturbance for local residents.

This report sets out the results of a project involving six major retailers at seven sites, with seven different Local Authorities. For four of those sites it provides in-depth assessments of the impact of permitting deliveries at night or in the early morning, including the results of noise monitoring and (where possible) calculations of reductions in fuel consumption and vehicle emissions. For the other three sites, where circumstances prevented an actual trial taking place, it nonetheless provides insight and valuable lessons into issues that need to be addressed, not only by retailers but also by local planning officers and Environmental Health officers.

The two Guides and the Case Studies that derive from this Report will, for the first time, give both the retail sector and Local Authorities an independently validated methodology for curfew relaxation to enable both sides to work together for their mutual benefit, while protecting the interests of local residents."

QDDS Project Report (including Annex 1,2 & 3)  

 

Annex 4 - Site Assessment Reports

ASDA, Bloxwich QDDS IVB Site Assessment Report - Noise Abatement Society

Morrisons, Stone QDDS IVB Site Assessment Report - Noise Abatement Society

M&S, Chichester QDDS IVB Site Assessment Report - Noise Abatement Society

Sainsburys, Bournmouth QDDS IVB Site Assessment Report - Noise Abatement Society

Superdrug, London QDDS IVB Site Assessment Report - Noise Abatement Society 

Annex 5 - Noise Monitoring Reports

ASDA, Bloxwich Noise Monitoring Report - TRL

Morrisons, Stone Noise Monitoring Report - TRL

M&S, Chichester Noise Monitoring Report - TRL

Sainsburys, Bournmouth Noise Monitoring Report - TRL 

Annex 6

Emissions and Air Quality - AEA 

 

GUIDE FOR RETAILERS ON 'OUT-OF-HOURS' DELIVERIES 

This guide is designed to help retailers work with Local Authorities and local residents to realise the benefits of changed delivery hours without creating disturbance. QDDS Retailer Field Guide 

 

GUIDE FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES ON 'OUT-OF-HOURS' DELIVERIES 

This guide is designed to help Local Authorities work with local businesses and local residents to realise the benefits of changed delivery hours without creating disturbance. QDDS Local Authority Field Guide 

 

CASE STUDIES

In November 2009, the Department for Transport (DfT) established a consortium, in partnership with the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Noise Abatement Society (NAS), in order to investigate and promote the potential benefits from relaxation of delivery curfews for quiet deliveries. The QDDS consortium has overseen the whole scheme which has involved the setting up, running and reporting on quiet delivery demonstration trials at an intended six retail premises across England. The Scheme was managed by freight specialists at transport consultants, Transport & Travel Research Ltd (TTR). QDDS Case Study Report