Family-run Croydon haulier ELB Partners is launching a specialist London distribution hub for construction firms who need goods delivering within the M25.

ELB has acquired a six-acre site next to its headquarters in Beddington Farm Road which it will use to store goods for construction companies and complete final-mile deliveries for them.

Hauliers operating in London face an increasing array of stringent requirements, such as vehicles meeting Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) regulations, operators holding Fleet Operation Recognition Scheme (FORS) accreditation and drivers being dangerous goods vehicle (ADR) trained.

HGVs over 12 tonnes will also need to have a minimum three-star Direct Vision Standard (DVS) rating to operate in Greater London from October this year.

Pallet-Track network member ELB holds all these accreditations and plans to offer a convenient service for construction companies, so they don’t need to meet these requirements themselves.

It will also offer a parking service for trailers, flatbeds and cranes, as none are available in central London.

ELB Partners’ commercial director Dan Philpot said the idea evolved from a plan to establish a FORS-accredited network of hauliers.

He said: “The idea of this hub is to provide a location where hauliers can bring goods and we deliver onwards. We can then offer open storage and hold aggregates, bricks and building supplies for them, which we will load and send on.

It’ll also offer auxiliary parking in a huge yard space, and it all means other hauliers don’t need to worry about FORS, ULEZ, DVS or ADR accreditations. We take care of the final-mile deliveries for them.”

ELB managing director Peter Eason said the plans would address the ever-growing list of requirements for hauliers to operate within the M25.

He said: “The rules now mean lots of hauliers will simply start refusing to come into London. There’s a huge expense involved, and we hope this new hub will help address that. Many building sites now want drivers to complete an induction; plus, the DVS rules kick in later this year which will lead to further expense.

What we are offering will address those issues and simplify operations for the construction sector in the capital. There is nothing else in central London like this.”

Earlier this year, ELB achieved the remarkable milestone of a 10th consecutive FORS Gold award. It is the capital’s only independent haulier to have held the accreditation for this length of time.

Its fleet’s EURO6 engines all meet Low Emission Zone (LEZ) regulations and boast Direct Vision Standard (DVS) compliant camera technology to improve driver vision and protect vulnerable road users.

ELB was established in 1970 as a three-person partnership and Peter bought the business from his father George in 1985. It now employs around 60 staff and moved to a new 60,000 sq. ft headquarters in Beddington Farm Road in 2021.