Planning
permission


for
a
major
freight
hub
in
Leicestershire
catering
for
775m
trains
has
been
refused
by
the
transport
secretary.

Tritax
Symmetry
was
proposing
to
build
the
£750
million
Hinckley
National
Rail
Freight
Interchange
on
a
268-hectare
site
near
junction
2
of
the
M69
and
the
Leicester–Nuneaton
line,
which
would
provide
a
rail
freight
link
with
Felixstowe.
The
developer
said
the
interchange
would
create
8,000
jobs.

Transport
secretary
Heidi
Alexander
said
the
expected
benefits
of
the
scheme
were
outweighed
by
potential
negative
factors,
although
she
did
accept
that
there
was
a
‘compelling
need’
for
the
development.
But
she
was
concerned
about
the
effect
of
775m
trains
using
the
level
crossing
at
Narborough,
and
also
that
nearby
motorway
junctions
would
not
be
able
to
cope
with
the
additional
lorries,
along
with
a
‘potential
highways
safety
risk’
in
Sapcote.

The
scheme
had
been
opposed
locally.
Leicestershire
County
Council
cabinet
member
for
highways
and
transport
Ozzy
O’Shea
said:
‘This
is
a
landmark
day.
Whilst
we
are
not
against
the
principle
of
a
rail
freight
interchange,
any
proposal
must
be
supported
by
appropriate
infrastructure
to
mitigate
its
impacts
on
our
communities
and
highway
and
transport
network.
Unfortunately,
this
was
not
the
case
with
this
proposal.’

Tritax,
which
is
‘disappointed’
by
the
transport
secretary’s
decision,
said:
‘We
are
seeking
legal
advice
on
the
next
steps
available
to
us
and
will
review
our
position
when
that
advice
is
received.

‘We
remain
committed
to
delivering
critical
supply
chain
infrastructure
that
is
key
to
the
UK
economy,
with
rail
freight
connectivity
a
key
driver
of
the
modal
shift
in
the
sector.’

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