Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange

A proposed multi-purpose freight interchange and distribution centre southwest of Elmesthorpe and next to Burbage Common. It is predominantly within the boundary of Blaby District with a section of the new A47 link road within the boundary of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. The proposals include:

• New rail infrastructure providing access to a series of parallel sidings
• Intermodal freight terminal 'railport' capable of accommodating up to 16 trains per day of up to 775 meters in length
• Hard surfaced areas for container storage
• Up to 850,000 square meters of warehousing and ancillary buildings with a total footprint of 650,000 square meters and up to 200,000 square meters of mezzanine floorspace
• Lorry park with welfare facilities and fuel filling station
• Energy centre incorporating an electricity substation, a gas-fired combined heat and power plant, battery capacity and roof-mounted photovoltaic arrays 
• Terrain remodelling, hard and soft landscape works, amenity water features and planting
• Noise attenuation measures consisting of acoustic barriers up to 6 meters in height
• Pedestrian, equestrian and cycle access routes and infrastructure
• M69 update works including additional northbound and southbound slip roads
• Link road from M69 junction 2 to the B4668/A47 Leicester Road

In the early stages of the HNRFI's examination the Council submitted a Local Impact Report (describing likely technical impacts) and a Written Representation (explaining the Council's views). In its closing submission to the examination, the Council outlined its key outstanding concerns, urging the Secretary of State to refuse the application. Further details of the Council’s position at the closing of the examination can be found in a dedicated press release.

For the reasons stated in her letter, the Secretary of State considers that she is not yet in a position to decide whether to accept the Examining Authority’s (ExA’s) recommendation to refuse consent for the HNRFI. However, she is minded to refuse consent unless the Applicant can provide further evidence to demonstrate how the following issues can be addressed to her satisfaction:

• The safety concerns raised in respect of the M1 J21/ M69 J3 (Junction 15) and the lack of adequate modelling at this junction
• The increased highway safety risk at Sapcote
• The impact on disabled pedestrians at the Narborough Level Crossing
• The potential harm to the occupiers of the Aston Firs Travellers' site

The Applicant has also been asked to comment on:

• The ExA's revised Sustainable Transport Strategy
• The ExA's suggested amendments to the HGV Route and Management Plan
• The submissions of Dr Moore and Mr Moore relating to the noise assessments
• Concerns relating to plot 73 and the potential for harmful effects from the construction and adjoining phases on occupiers who have yet to move out

A 'Book of Reference' sets out who has been identified as having a legal interest in land within the project boundary or in a location that may be affected by the HNRFI. The Applicant has provided a physical copy of the Book of Reference which can be viewed during our normal opening hours at Blaby District Council’s Offices. An electronic version can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website using the external link below.