Regulatory Frameworks and Legal Policies in Urban Construction Logistics: A Cross-National Comparative Analysis

Abstract Construction logistics significantly influence the sustainability, safety, and efficiency of surrounding transport infrastructure, for which the public sector bears primary responsibility. Despite this, construction logistics are often insufficiently addressed in planning and building permit processes, leaving governance mechanisms underutilized. Existing research largely focuses on operational solutions, while comparative analyses of regulatory frameworks and their enforcement in urban construction logistics remain limited. This study compares the legal and regulatory frameworks governing construction logistics in Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as their implementation in practice. The analysis is based on a review of relevant political and legal documents, and a comparative assessment of construction logistics plans and manuals using country-specific project examples. The results show that, although overarching policy objectives related to urban logistics are similar in both countries, construction logistics are weighted differently in regulatory practice. Germany relies primarily on project-specific, nonstandardized decisions, whereas the United Kingdom applies a nationally standardized approach to construction logistics planning and permits. These differences lead to variation in the consistency and scope of impact mitigation measures. The findings reveal characteristics of both systems and provide a foundation for improving governance approaches.