a. Aims and objectives
b. The current position – economy, infrastructure, policy
c. Stakeholder consultation – councils, businesses etc.
d. Horizon-scanning - key market-based trends, role of alternative modes and impact of new fuels, key policy issues such as Net Zero and Brexit
e. SWOT analysis - to summarise freight issues and opportunities
f. Options for interventions - creation of long list and multi-criteria analysis to develop short list
g. Modelling of potential net benefits from short-listed interventions using established appraisal methodology
h. Action plan

• Economic profile - What economic activities will generate and attract freight in the area?
• Freight transport infrastructure - What are the main links and nodes used by freight in the area?
• O-D of freight - Where is freight coming from and going to? Is it mainly local or is it strategic freight moving over longer distances? How much freight is transiting the area (and providing little benefit)? How does the split between road and rail compare to the national average?
• Ports - Which entry and exit points do local businesses rely on for their imports and exports?
• Warehouses - Where are the large warehouses located and how important is the area for distribution activity in a regional and national context?
• Policy – How well does existing policy address policy objectives?