New transport secretary urged to reject controversial rail hub plan

Tritax Symmetry says the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange scheme will deliver a number of benefits for the local community
-Credit:Tritax Symmetry


Local leaders have renewed calls for a hugely unpopular Leicestershire rail hub to be rejected. Senior councillors at Blaby District Council (BDC) have written to the new transport secretary Heidi Alexander to once again express their “grave concerns” over the proposed Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI).

The £750 million scheme would see nine warehouses and a rail terminal that could handle up to 16 trains each day built on 40-acres of land near the town, if approved. There would also be a new road access to the M69 motorway and a lorry park. Residents, politicians and campaigners have long raised major concerns over the impact's scheme on local roads, the environment and the lives of those living in the villages around it. Criticism has also been levelled at developer Tritax Ltd over missing information throughout the process.

However, the final decision over the scheme is in the hands of the Government, not the local planning authority, as it is deemed to be a scheme of national importance. A deadline for this had been set for Tuesday, September 10, but then transport secretary Louise Haigh announced she would be delaying her ruling until this year so further information on the scheme could be submitted. She indicated she would be “minded” to “withhold consent” for the development, however – in other words refuse it.

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The proposed HNFRI site near Junction 2 of the M69
The proposed HNFRI site near Junction 2 of the M69

She said she was “particularly concerned by the identified increase to the highway safety risk in Sapcote”. There would likely be Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) travelling in opposite directions through the village centre, she added, and “as a result, overrunning on to the footpaths used by pedestrians”.

Ms Haigh also raised concerns over the “harmful effect on the living conditions” of residents of a nearby travellers site, inadequate analysis of traffic impacts at two local junctions and the impacts on the landscape around the site. She added she feels there would be impacts on air quality in the area as well, and “a small quantity of the best and most versatile agricultural land” would be lost to the scheme.

However, Ms Haigh resigned the position in November after it emerged publicly that she had pleaded guilty to a fraud offence a decade earlier. Ms Alexander was selected by Sir Keir Starmer to fill the role.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM  DECEMBER 03, 2024: Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander leaves 10 Downing Street after attending the weekly Cabinet meeting in London, United Kingdom on December 03, 2024. (Photo credit should read Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Heidi Alexander is the transport secretary -Credit:Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images

In their letter to her successor Ms Alexander, Terry Richardson, leader of the council, and Ben Taylor, planning lead for BDC, said there were “fundamental flaws” in the plans put forward by Tritax. They added: “While southern Leicestershire is a key part of the nation’s logistics sector, we continue to experience significant issues in relation to the strategic highway network – most notably at the M1/M69 junction at Junction 21 of the M1.

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“The HNRFI, by not properly addressing its own impacts, will overload this already oversaturated junction and will reduce the region’s capacity for further economic growth. We therefore urge you to carefully consider the negative social, environmental and economic impacts of the HNRFI on the residents of Blaby district, and Leicestershire as a whole, and consider the highways infrastructure mitigation that is required in this part of the region.”

They added they “hoped” Ms Alexander would reach the same conclusion as Ms Haigh when the latter said she was “minded” to refuse.

The two councillors continued: “This extended wait for a decision is having a material impact on local plan making but more importantly is causing a huge amount of stress to the residents in this area especially those under threat of losing their homes due to compulsory purchase. An early decision to finally reject this proposal would be greatly appreciated.”

Interested parties have until Friday, February 7 to comment on the additional information submitted by Tritax following Ms Haigh’s announcement. A decision is currently expected by Monday, March 10.

Coun Taylor wanted Ms Alexander to takes into account BDC's concerns. He said: “We have always said this scheme would destroy vast swathes of countryside and ruin the rural character of our district forever. We have also raised continual concerns about the huge negative effects it would have on our highways and motorways and the lack of measures from Tritax to overcome these.

“As the deadline for the decision on the HNRFI scheme approaches and with a new Secretary of State for Transport in place, we felt we should again express our grave concerns. We hope Ms Alexander takes these on board and agrees with the previous position that the scheme should be rejected.”