Cost of posting letters has more than doubled in six years as service continues to miss targets

THE PRICE of a first-class stamp will rise to £1.80 from next month, as Royal Mail pushes ahead with another increase despite ongoing criticism of the postal service’s reliability.

From April 7, the cost of sending a first-class letter will increase by 10p, while the price of a second-class stamp will rise by 4p to 91p.

The latest rise means the cost of a first-class stamp has more than doubled in six years, increasing by 137% since 2020, following eight separate price hikes.

Second-class stamps have also risen sharply, with six increases during the same period.

Delivery targets repeatedly missed

The announcement comes as Royal Mail continues to face criticism for failing to meet its delivery performance targets.

Consumer group Citizens Advice said the price rise was difficult to justify while service standards remain poor.

Anne Pardoe, head of policy at Citizens Advice said: “More than half a decade has gone by since Royal Mail last met its delivery targets. For many people, sending important letters has become a gamble.

“People can’t be certain if essential documents, including medical appointments, will arrive on time.”

She warned that proposed changes to delivery schedules could worsen the situation.

“Higher prices must come with higher standards,” she said. “Ofcom should not simply approve these increases while service levels continue to fall.”

MPs raise concerns over postal delays

Royal Mail has also been summoned to appear before MPs after complaints about postal delays and reports that letters are sometimes delivered in batches rather than daily.

The last time the company met its annual first-class delivery target was in 2019–20.

Royal Mail cites rising costs

Royal Mail says the increases are necessary due to falling letter volumes and rising delivery costs.

Richard Travers, managing director of letters at Royal Mail said: “We carefully consider price changes to balance affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail.

“People are sending far fewer letters than they used to — around 70% fewer than twenty years ago — while the number of addresses we deliver to has increased by four million, bringing the total to 32 million across the UK.”

He added that the average UK adult now spends around £6.50 a year on stamps.

Changes to second-class service

Royal Mail is also pressing ahead with wider reforms to the postal service.

Last year, regulator Ofcom approved plans allowing the company to remove Saturday deliveries for second-class letters, replacing them with deliveries every other weekday.

The changes are currently being tested in 35 delivery offices across the UK.

Talks between Royal Mail and the Communications Workers Union (CWU) about how the reforms should be rolled out ended without agreement earlier this week, though negotiations have been extended.

Royal Mail says changes to the universal service are needed to ensure the long-term future of the postal system.

Despite the price rises, the company argues that UK stamp prices remain below the European average, which it says is around £1.93 for first class and £1.56 for second class.

When it comes to sustainable growth, you need to focus on creating a long-term development strategy instead of just chasing short-term wins. A big win here and there is never a bad thing, but to ensure ongoing success, investing in strategies that drive a consistent stream of income from multiple revenue sources is necessary. 

So, if you’re looking for ways to grow in the B2B market, consider these four strategies:

Targeted Marketing 

Understanding your ideal client is the key to effective B2B marketing. Having this clarity gives more purpose to your marketing, allowing you to tailor your messaging so it actually resonates with your audience. 

Once you’ve identified your target market, publishing things like insightful articles, research reports, and case studies, and distributing them through relevant channels for that audience, will help you build credibility and attract higher quality leads in bigger quantities. 

Multi-Channel Engagement 

B2B buyers typically interact with brands in multiple places, from search results through to industry events, before making a purchasing decision or engaging in a sales conversation. Businesses that rely on a single channel risk missing numerous opportunities for lead generation. 

Multi-channel strategies can include anything. For example, a LinkedIn campaign alongside email outreach and search engine optimisation. This multi-channel approach increases visibility and reinforces your credibility, which over time leads to better brand recognition and more leads. 

Aligning Sales With Marketing

Marketing and sales are both incredibly important, but if there’s a disconnect between the two, it can diminish the effectiveness of them both. Regular communication between departments allows marketing teams to understand who is converting, giving them the insights they need to refine their campaigns and attract similar audiences. Likewise, sales teams can benefit from marketing resources and data insights that support their outreach. 

Consistent Pipeline Development 

A sustainable B2B growth strategy requires a steady pipeline of opportunities. Consistent lead generation allows sales teams to meet revenue targets, and this is where partnerships and specialised support can make a difference. Many organisations choose to work with external experts such as The Lead Generation Company, who can supplement their efforts and implement ongoing lead generation programmes that continuously drive success. 

Implementing Sustainable Growth Strategies Doesn’t Happen Overnight 

Forming and putting new processes in place takes time and you may not see results straight away. But by engaging in targeted marketing, diversifying your channels, ensuring sales and marketing departments remain aligned, and developing pipelines consistently, growth will follow. 

A CONSULTANCY’S director of planning believes the “devil is in the detail” when it comes to the impact of the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 and its new Significant Infrastructure Projects (SIPs) regime.

Steve Ottewell, who joined Caulmert late last year, says that while the ambition behind the reforms is clear, practical challenges could shape how successful the new process proves.

Replacing Developments of National Significance and other consenting routes, the streamlined system is designed to speed up planning decisions and make Wales more attractive to investors.

SIPs will cover major schemes in energy, transport, water, and waste, requiring a single infrastructure consent that consolidates multiple authorisations for large-scale developments on land and offshore.

Projects must meet defined thresholds to qualify – for example, 35-50MW for solar and wind schemes, or 10-million cubic metres capacity for new or altered dams/reservoirs.

The intention is to create a modernised one-stop shop, similar to the Development Consent Order (DCO) process introduced in England under the Planning Act 2008.

However, Steve remains cautious, saying: “Advisors and clients alike must tread carefully. There is nothing wrong with the ambition of the new regime, but it does raise some questions and concerns.

“It is only when fresh methods are operational do we know the impact they will have. Does the bottleneck that is currently in one area of the procedure now just move to another step, for example.”

Welsh ministers will also have discretion to bring projects that fall below the thresholds into the SIP regime.

Steve continued: “On paper, this flexibility is welcome because it enables schemes that are strategically important, but not technically captured by the definitions, to benefit from the streamlined process.

“There is, however, ambiguity around the criteria ministers will apply when exercising this. Is it purely a matter or scale, or will policy alignment and political priorities weigh more heavily?

“This lack of clarity means developers face uncertainty at the very first step regarding whether to prepare for a SIP application or proceed through local planning.

“Misjudging this route could waste months of preparation and expose projects to challenge.”

Applications will be submitted to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), which will examine cases on behalf of Welsh ministers. Inspectors will review evidence from all stakeholders, with ministers making the final decision in most instances.

Steve said: “If a significant volume of projects are classed as SIPs, either because thresholds are broad or because ministers exercise their discretion liberally, the burden will fall squarely on these bodies.

“PEDW already manages a heavy caseload of appeals and inquiries, and the SIP regime adds a layer of complexity and intensity.

“Examinations under the act will demand specialist expertise, rigorous environmental assessment, and careful handling of compulsory acquisition powers.”

Despite the challenges, Steve views the act as a bold step towards modernising infrastructure planning in Wales.

Key to this is making the right choice at the outset regarding whether to pursue the SIPs route, seek optional designation, or remaining within local planning.

He explained: “Advisors can provide clarity here, mapping project characteristics against statutory thresholds and ministerial guidance, and framing proposals to resonate with Wales’ sustainability agenda.

“Working together, clients and advisors can ensure that the country’s new regime delivers not just on efficiency, but on its promise of sustainable growth and investment confidence.

“The team at Caulmert can help with any questions or queries you might have.”

Founded in 2008, Caulmert is on track to meet an ambitious growth and development plan.

Its expertise in a variety of engineering, environmental, planning, and project management disciplines is supported by its use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) to ISO 19650 standard on many of its projects.

For more information visit www.caulmert.com