- Development Consent Order (DCO) for Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI) has been accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate
- HNRFI will create over 8,000 regional jobs and help decarbonise the UK transport sector by driving the intermodal shift from road to rail
- Thousands of local residents have been consulted prior to submission with changes made to the scheme following feedback
- The Planning Inspectorate will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport in 2024
Tritax Symmetry has had its application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI) accepted by the Planning Inspectorate, a project which represents significant of investment into the Leicestershire area that could unlock thousands of new jobs.
The submitted application is for a rail freight interchange and distribution centre between the Leicester-to-Hinckley railway to the north-west, and the M69 motorway to the south-east. The proposal includes a new rail freight terminal as well as modern logistics warehouses, infrastructure improvements and landscaping.
The application will now be considered by the Planning Inspectorate over the course of 2023/24 and, if permitted, would create over 8,000 regional jobs.
The plans would also deliver over £70 million worth of infrastructure improvements to help manage traffic flow in the local area, including new slip roads at Junction 2 and a new link road connecting the M69 to B4669 / A47 Leicester Road.
The project represents a significant step forward in delivering more rail freight infrastructure in the UK. HNRFI could run 16 freight trains a day with each train removing up to 76 lorries off the roads, meaning 1.6 billion fewer kilometres travelled by HGVs a year.
Sinead Turnbull, Planning Director at Tritax Symmetry said: “The acceptance of the application for Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange marks an important milestone in delivering significant investment in low carbon buildings and infrastructure for Leicestershire.”
“The unique location, with excellent strategic connections, will mean it is one of the most important rail freight and infrastructure projects for the region’s connectivity. It will generate new apprenticeships and skills for the region in a fast-growing and future-facing logistics industry – one that is the lifeblood of the economy and vital to our country’s growth.”
Thousands of local residents were consulted prior to submission, with changes being made to the scheme following feedback, including the provision of additional landscaping and ecological enhancements as well as a reduction to building heights and the provision of a footbridge at The Outwoods level crossing.
The Planning Inspectorate will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport whether to approve the project early in 2024.