News Articles Archive - Page 5 of 159 - Cross River Partnership

After nine years, CRP has closed clickcollect.london, our website that encouraged Londoners to use local collection services for online shopping. The decision reflects how far the city has come: Click & Collect is now a normal part of shopping habits, making it easier for people to choose a more sustainable way to receive deliveries.

When we launched Click & Collect as part of our award-winning Clean Air Better Business programme funded by the Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund, the goal was simple: reduce unnecessary van trips caused by missed home deliveries, which contribute to congestion and poor air quality. By normalising this convenient and environmentally friendly way to receive parcels, we’ve helped make sustainable delivery the new standard.

Today, Click & Collect is part of everyday life. Retailers and consumers alike have embraced it, meaning there’s no longer a need to actively promote the service. This is a win for cleaner air, fewer emissions, and a more efficient city.

And CRP’s work doesn’t stop here. Through projects like Smarter Greener Logistics and our current award-winning Waterloo Logistics Hub, we’re helping businesses adopt zero-emission vehicles, cargo bikes, and smarter delivery solutions. Together, these efforts keep London moving toward a healthier, greener future

After a very long lead-in, the Autumn Budget-2025 finally happened on 26^th November 2025.

According to the Financial Times’ Chris Giles:

The government is working to achieve economic stability
The rapidly ageing population is presenting huge challenges
The current budget deficit will be higher every year up to 2029-30
It is hard to improve public services while also addressing this

There is still the need to get confidence back, from people and businesses, to move into a virtuous circle of progress.

CRP will continue to work with its public, private and community partners to move towards green and sustainable growth, within the parameters set by the Autumn Budget.

We are delighted to announce CRP and its’ partners have been awarded the CiTTi Last Mile Logistics Award in recognition of the innovative and sustainable Waterloo Freight Hub Trial.

The project involved cross-sector collaboration led by CRP, alongside Network Rail, the London Borough of Lambeth, the Department for Transport, London and Continental Railways, Delivery Mates, Steer, Intermodality and Waterloo Station. Funding for the development of the project has come from Defra, through CRP’s Air Quality Funded programme, Smarter Greener Logistics, and, Impact on Urban Health.

The Waterloo Freight Hub Phase 1 Trial took place from March – July 2025 in an arch in Waterloo Station’s undercroft. The trial saw huge benefits, including:

Over 20,000 parcels delivered
Over 4,600 km travelled by cargo bikes
Over 2,500 kg of CO2 Emissions Saved

CRP is proud that these significant environmental, economic and social benefits have been recognised by the CiTTi Awards. This Phase 1 trial will serve as a proof of concept to scale and adapt the hub to meet future ecommerce demand and change how goods are moved across Britain.

The long-term vision for the project is to develop a much larger, multi-operator, and multi-modal sustainable freight hub, operating middle mile deliveries into Waterloo Station by rail, road and river, and outbound deliveries by low emission vehicles such as electrically-assisted cargo bikes.

For more information on the Waterloo Freight Hub, please email Ross Phillips on rossphillips@crossriverpartnership.org

The Mayor of London and London Councils have launched a £147.2 million Inclusive Talent Strategy to address skills shortages and unlock the capital’s diverse talent.

The strategy aims to support 150,000 Londoners into good jobs by aligning training with employer needs and focusing on inclusive growth. It prioritises those facing barriers to employment, including disabled people, ethnic minorities, and older workers. Key initiatives include new Sector Talent Boards, expanded Skills Bootcamps, and better integration of employment and health services. The strategy also supports emerging sectors such as AI, green industries, and creative tech, ensuring Londoners are equipped for the future economy.

Developed in partnership with employers, training providers, and local authorities, the strategy is a core part of the London Growth Plan. It reflects a city-wide commitment to building a fairer, more resilient labour market that benefits all communities and drives long-term economic prosperity.

Find out more: London leaders launch Inclusive Talent Strategy to kickstart a skills revolution and support more Londoners into work | London City Hall

Thousands of London pupils will soon enjoy fresher air in their classrooms, thanks to a new £2.7 million project from the Mayor of London. The scheme will bring special air filters to at least 200 schools across the city, helping protect children from harmful pollution.

Air pollution can affect children’s lungs, health, and even how well they learn. Research from City Hall found that classrooms using these filters had up to 68% less pollution than those without – meaning pupils and teachers will be breathing much cleaner air every day.

The filters will be rolled out first in schools in areas with the poorest air quality. They’re energy efficient and come with classroom activities to help pupils understand why clean air matters. Cleaner air doesn’t just mean healthier lungs; it can also mean better attendance and improved focus in lessons.

This project is part of a wider effort to make London a greener, healthier city for everyone. Read more about the Mayor’s announcement here.

As the festive season approaches in London, it’s the perfect time to reflect on some of our partners Christmas events.

Here are just a few of the exciting activities on offer!

Harley Street BID Christmas Advent Calendar

This online Advent Calendar is running from the 1st to the 24th of December 2025 and offers daily luxury prizes donated by local businesses. Why not enter?

Team London Bridge Christmas Lantern Parade

On the 4th of December join local primary schools and the London Bridge community for a magical evening of festive singing and a beautiful lantern parade along the Thames. The parade will begin at Potters Fields Park with school choir performances and then lead a procession along the river!

The Iconic Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree Returns!

Once again, the City of Oslo is sending a Christmas tree to London in gratitude for Britain’s support for Norway during the Second World War. The tree will be on display from the 4th of December to the 5th of January!

Christmas in London is an amazing time of year so be sure to enjoy the season and explore the fantastic events hosted by our partners across the city. Make sure to watch our socials as we share more exciting events!

CRP’s accountable body, Westminster City Council is working on a new plan to make getting around the city better for everyone, and they want to hear what you think.

Whether you walk, cycle, drive, or take the bus, this is your chance to help improve travel in Westminster. The Council’s plan is all about making streets cleaner, safer, and easier to use.

They want to:

Make walking and cycling more enjoyable.

Cut down on pollution and traffic.

Make roads safer, especially near schools.

Help people with disabilities get around more easily.

Support local businesses and workers.

This could mean things like more bike parking, better lighting, quieter streets, and buses that run later for night-shift workers.

You don’t need to be an expert. Just share what works for you, what doesn’t, and what you’d like to see.

So complete the survey by Monday, 8 December 2025, and help make the City of Westminster a place where getting around is easy, safe, and sustainable for everyone.

Last week, the CRP team stepped away from the usual routine to take part in a Team Away Day. This acted as an opportunity to reflect, recharge, and reimagine how we work together.

The day was designed to spark fresh thinking and foster deeper collaboration and together we explored:

Innovating Communications: From storytelling to strategy, we brainstormed bold new ways to connect with our audiences.
Reviewing Ways of Working: Honest conversations helped us identify what’s working, and what could work better!
Reflecting on Individual Skills and Qualities: Each person brings something unique and together, we’re stronger, more innovative, and ready to take on new challenges.
Embracing AI: We explored how emerging tools impact in our day-to-day roles.

And to round things off, we got creative with a fun wellbeing activity: painting plant pots inspired by what we love about our local green spaces.

A brilliant day spent connecting, collaborating, and reflecting!

London Borough of Camden has expanded its OurBike network from four to twelve, becoming currently the largest fleet in a London Borough!

This is a fantastic achievement by our Healthy Streets Everyday II project partner, and we are delighted to be supporting this sustainable active travel project through our Mayor of London funded programme.

OurBike, a scheme provided by Peddle My Wheels, provides an affordable and accessible cargo bike hire solution for residents and businesses. The scheme helps more individuals to experience the benefits of this mode of transport over polluting motor vehicles for carrying out deliveries and transporting large or bulky items.

OurBike cargos are parked on street, near a ‘host’ business – a full list of existing and new locations are provided below!

New hire locations

Alfred Place, Fitzrovia

Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia

Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross

Goldington Crescent, Kings Cross

Camden Road, Camden Town

Regents Park Road, Primrose Hill

Weedington Road, Gospel Oak

Winchester Road, Swiss Cottage

Existing hire locations

Lamb’s Conduit Street, Holborn

Kentish Town Road, Kentish Town

Albany Street, Regent’s Park

Haverstock Hill, Haverstock

This expansion marks a major step forward in making active, low-carbon transport more accessible across Camden. Whether you’re a local business or a resident, OurBike makes it easier to move goods sustainably, and we’re excited to see even more people pedalling positive change.

The CRP Team is continuing apace with an extensive range of fundraising activities. We are applying to familiar sources as well as targeting completely new sources as well, including:

Carbon Offset Funding

UK Research and Innovation

Active Spaces Fund

Road Safety Trust

Active Travel England

Driving Urban Transitions

HORIZON Europe

London Universities

Consultancy Opportunities

We will let CRP Partners know fundraising results as soon as they become available.

In the meantime, we are ensuring ongoing successful delivery of CRP’s existing programmes, including Healthy Streets Everyday II, Just Streets, Micro Logistics Hubs and Data Analysis and Monitoring.

For queries and ideas please contact CRP Director Susannah Wilks.

Archives: News Articles

Click & Collect: From Trial to Transformation

Autumn Budget Update

CRP Wins CiTTi Award for Innovative Waterloo Freight Hub Trial

Mayor of London Launches Inclusive Talent Strategy

Cleaner Classrooms, Healthier Futures: £2.7 Million Boost to Improve Air Quality in London Schools

Celebrating the Season: CRP Partners Christmas Events

Getting Around Westminster: Your Voice Matters!

CRP Team Away Day

Camden Rolls Ahead – OurBike Network Triples in Size!

CRP Fundraising