Takeaways from the ALICE-C40-POLIS Webinar: Parcel Lockers

Thursday, February 6th, 2025

On 29 January 2025, ALICE, C40 Cities, and POLIS hosted a webinar focused on the role of parcel lockers in improving urban logistics and last-mile deliveries. The session featured insights from experts and city representatives from Europe and North America (New York City, Valence, London, Stockholm, and Groningen), who discussed best practices, challenges, and strategies for scaling up parcel locker networks. Below are the key takeaways from the event.

The role of parcel lockers in urban logistics

Parcel lockers are increasingly recognised as a critical last-mile delivery solution in urban and suburban environments. They help cities and businesses address key logistics challenges, including:

Reducing congestion by consolidating deliveries and minimising vehicle journeys.
Minimising failed deliveries and package theft.
Optimising land use by strategically locating in urban centres (multimodal hubs, commuting areas) and sharing infrastructure among several logistics service providers (white label lockers).

Best practices and key takeaways

Urban areas: Lockers should be easily accessible within walking distance to maximise convenience and reduce vehicle trips.
Suburban and rural areas: Lockers should be located along commuter routes and high-traffic areas to minimise additional car trips.
Shared lockers: Shared lockers reduce duplication of infrastructure and optimize urban space use.
Government support: Streamlined permitting and zoning policies are essential for faster deployment.
Public awareness: Marketing and education campaigns increase uptake and encourage behaviour change.
(User incentives: Financial incentives and free trials help attract first-time users and establish long-term usage. )

Lessons from cities

New York City’s LockerNYC pilot programme, launched in 2021 as part of the city’s freight plan, aims to improve last-mile logistics. Stephen Solecki, Acting Deputy Director, NYC Freight Mobility Unit, presented on its progress.

The programme has 15+ locker sites, 1,200+ users and 7,000+ transactions, with a 30% increase in usage. Key challenges include 90,000+ lost packages per day, 90% of deliveries dependent on trucks, and limited sidewalk space and power access.

Next steps focus on expanding lockers, reducing emissions and integrating cargo bikes. Strategic location is critical to success.

France: Master plan for out-of-home deliveries in Valence

Martin Munier-Jolain, Transport Engineer, Interface Transport, presented how the Valence Romans Mobilites developed a master plan to improve the efficiency of parcel collection. With 0.7 collection points per 1,000 inhabitants, most are located in local shops, while dedicated lockers remain limited. 72% of users drive to collection points, especially in rural areas, and shopkeepers struggle with parcel management, increasing the demand for lockers.

To improve efficiency, the plan recommends locating lockers in high-traffic areas such as train stations, prioritising multi-operator lockers and integrating lockers into urban development projects. Strategic placement along commuter routes is key to minimising unnecessary car journeys.

London: Parcel lockers: CRP projects & experiences

Isidora Rivera Vollmer, Project Manager, Cross River Partnership (CRP), looked at London’s experience. The city is testing parcel lockers as part of urban logistics initiatives that include cargo bikes delivery. The Chelsea Harbour Sustainable Delivery Hub features parcel lockers and cargo bike bays, with future plans to integrate river freight for multimodal last-mile delivery. The South Dock Marina Parcel Locker helps reduce congestion and provides 24/7 access for boaters.

Challenges include slow council approval processes, while battery-powered lockers provide a cost-effective, flexible solution. Integrating lockers with sustainable transport improves efficiency and reduces emissions.

Stockholm: From pilot to policy

Victoria Herslöf, Transport Department, City of Stockholm, explained that Stockholm launched a two-year pilot to test parcel lockers in 2020 and later established a permitting process for installations of parcel lockers on public land to help reduce overlapping functions of the existing pick-up-drop-off network. The evaluation emphasised pedestrian-friendly locations, security and carrier-agnostic lockers to improve accessibility and reduce duplication.

Groningen: Data-driven locker extension

Remy Baas, Policy Advisor for Urban Logistics, City of Groningen, explained that a new framework for parcel lockers has been recently developed, in collaboration with the University of Groningen and Bax Innovation. He underlined that Groningen is developing a parcel locker policy, with existing lockers already showing high uptake and emission reductions. Plans focus on expanding multi-carrier lockers and optimising locations near transport hubs to promote walkability.

This webinar highlighted how parcel lockers can improve urban logistics by reducing congestion, increasing efficiency and supporting sustainable transport. With strategic placement and collaboration, cities can maximise their impact and create more accessible delivery networks.

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