tracks disappearing into the distance

UK government may decide on Hinckley freight terminal

New railway tracks Image Network Rail media centre

He may be new to the job, but transport secretary Mark Harper will already have found on his desk a large file labeled Hinckley. It will soon be his duty to open that file. The long gestation of the designated national rail freight interchange at Hinckley in Leicestershire will soon come to his attention for approval. It is quite possibly the longest running saga for any proposed development in Britain’s Golden Triangle for logistics.

Hinckley, a modest market town in the centre of England, is lending its name to a proposed National Rail Freight Terminal. At least that’s the intention of the developers of the 750 million pound (890 million euro) project. Local opposition has been long lived and, despite several setbacks over the five year long proposal, they have succeeded in having the plans referred to highest authority on the matter – the secretary of state for transport.

Stoicism of campaigners

The patience of the developers has only been matched by the stoicism of the campaigners at Hinckley. Tritax Symmetry has had proposals on the table for five years. During that time, they have moved to emphasise the environmental credentials of the development, particularly the construction and transport aspects of the projects. They of course make capital of their plan to build a large rail connected logistics park – the importance of which has only grown in the intervening years, due to the shift in government policy and legislation towards a net-zero economy by 2050.

Map showing location of Hinckley
Hinckley is in sweet spot for logistics distribution, often known as the Golden Triangle.

Unsurprisingly, campaigners from the local community have been somewhat less than enthusiastic about the prospect of a 450-acre (180 hectares) site, dominated by extensive warehousing, and all the attendant road and rail infrastructure, to be built on their little bit of green and pleasant England – more so because it is a green and pleasant oasis already encroached by highways and railways.

Plans officially referred

Although still keen to promote the proximity of the sit to local motorways, Tritax Symmetry say the plans for Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange will deliver a multi-purpose cargo interchange and distribution facility, alongside new and improved rail and road connections. “The site, bounded by the railway to the north-west and the M69 to the south-east, will comprise up to 650,000 square metres of gross external footprint and 200,000 square metres of mezzanine floor space of high bay storage and logistics buildings.”

Those figures excite logistics operators, and the prospect of up to sixteen intermodal trains have rail freight operators sitting up and paying attention too. However, none of that makes good reading for local campaigners, who have mounted a lengthy resistance to the proposals. Given the designated strategic importance of the terminal, the plans have even been raised in parliament. That question in the house has contributed to an official referral to the planning authorities, who will make a recommendation to the minister, sometime in early 2024. Assuming Mark Harper is still in the hot seat at the Department for Transport, that’s when he’ll be asked to add his signature, next to the “go” or “no go” line. The developers are confident of the former, while campaigners perhaps take a different view.

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Author: Simon Walton

Simon Walton is RailFreight's UK correspondent.

2 comments op “UK government may decide on Hinckley freight terminal”

Chris Redman|16.03.23|12:44

Hinckley is NOT a village. It is a town with a population of 35,000.

There are many problems with this scheme:

– Location is in one council area, impact will be felt greater in neighbouring one (Hinckley)
– More trains means more chaos at level crossing in Narborough
– The project is not needed, as there is capacity at Lawley St, Birch Coppice, East Midlands Gateway and DIRFT, and a million sq feet is being built now at Magna Park.

Simon Walton|16.03.23|13:03

Agreed on the status of Hinckley, now updated with respect for the town’s inhabitants. Thank you for point out – it is appreciated.

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UK government may decide on Hinckley freight terminal | RailFreight.com
tracks disappearing into the distance

UK government may decide on Hinckley freight terminal

New railway tracks Image Network Rail media centre

He may be new to the job, but transport secretary Mark Harper will already have found on his desk a large file labeled Hinckley. It will soon be his duty to open that file. The long gestation of the designated national rail freight interchange at Hinckley in Leicestershire will soon come to his attention for approval. It is quite possibly the longest running saga for any proposed development in Britain’s Golden Triangle for logistics.

Do you want to read the full article?

Are you already a member?

Log in

Having problems logging in? Call +31(0)10 280 1000 or send an email to customerdesk@promedia.nl.

 

Author: Simon Walton

Simon Walton is RailFreight's UK correspondent.

2 comments op “UK government may decide on Hinckley freight terminal”

Chris Redman|16.03.23|12:44

Hinckley is NOT a village. It is a town with a population of 35,000.

There are many problems with this scheme:

– Location is in one council area, impact will be felt greater in neighbouring one (Hinckley)
– More trains means more chaos at level crossing in Narborough
– The project is not needed, as there is capacity at Lawley St, Birch Coppice, East Midlands Gateway and DIRFT, and a million sq feet is being built now at Magna Park.

Simon Walton|16.03.23|13:03

Agreed on the status of Hinckley, now updated with respect for the town’s inhabitants. Thank you for point out – it is appreciated.

Add your comment

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