The proposed £750M Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange is facing rejection from the Transport Secretary.
- Tritax Symmetry, the project developer, must address issues primarily relating to traffic by 10 December.
- The proposals include significant infrastructure developments such as new railway sidings and motorway connections.
- Concerns revolve around highway safety in local areas, including the village of Sapcote.
- Additional issues question the project’s sustainable transport strategy and impact on local communities.
The Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, has expressed a preliminary disposition to reject the development consent order (DCO) for the £750M Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange. The Midlands-based project, proposed by Tritax Symmetry, is under scrutiny primarily due to traffic-related concerns that must be comprehensively addressed by 10 December 2024.
The Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange is envisaged as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, designed to integrate railway sidings and a freight transfer area into the existing two-track railway between Hinckley and Leicester. Anticipated to accommodate up to 16 trains per day, each as long as 775 metres, the project’s integration into Network Rail’s ‘F2N’ route is a pivotal aspect. As part of the infrastructure proposal, new slip roads would connect with the M69 motorway, enhancing linkages between the M6, M1, and the A5.
However, reports from the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) highlight considerable concerns. While acknowledging substantial benefits and strategic site selection, PINS raises alarms over highway safety risks, especially in Sapcote village. The potential overrunning of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) onto pedestrian footpaths is deemed unacceptable. Moreover, inadequacies in proposed motorway connections, specifically at M69 Junctions 2 and 3, require further evidence of effective modelling to ascertain safety improvements.
Additional critiques include a lacklustre sustainable transport strategy. PINS contends that Tritax Symmetry has not fully exploited potential opportunities for encouraging sustainable travel modes. In particular, there is a notable absence of sufficient measures to integrate eco-friendly transport options into the development framework.
Further, issues extend to the project’s impact on residents, with prospective noise pollution from an acoustic barrier poised to affect the living conditions of the Aston Firs Travellers site. Leicestershire County Council had previously echoed these concerns, underscoring the socio-environmental repercussions during the DCO application examination.
The project’s future is contingent upon resolving significant safety and environmental concerns by the stipulated deadline for the Transport Secretary’s decision.
