UK: Hinckley a step closer to approval
The long-opposed and even longer-desired Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI) is a step closer to realisation. Tritax Big Box Developments (TBBD) is hoping for a positive decision on a Development Consent Order (DCO) application for their planned development. The logistics park, with rail facilities, midway between Leicester and Coventry, is projected by the company to generate between ?329 million and ?406 million per year in Gross Value Added (GVA) for the UK economy.
Tritax has made a representation to the UK government, hoping to smooth the final steps towards gaining approval. News of Hinckley comes on the coattails of a Manchester proposal, at Newton-le-Willows, and several other developments coming down the tracks. Hinckley would be the latest in the highly desirable "logistics golden triangle" of the English East Midlands.
Conflicts of locations locations locations
There has been stiff opposition to logistics developments, mainly on the grounds of road congestion and loss of amenities.
However, previous recent developments, such as the established East Midlands Gateway[1], or the massive SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton, currently under construction, have proved that a manicured amenity can be cultivated around the warehousing and rail tracks.
Hinckley is in the sweet spot for logistics distribution, often known as the Golden Triangle. Image: (C) Tritax Symmetry and OpenStreetMaps
The submission comes a week after the government outlined a series of major infrastructure initiatives aimed at revitalising the UK economy. Tritax has referred to their project as a "once in a generation opportunity to deliver a major infrastructure project, which has rail freight, sustainability and economic growth at its core."
Thousands of jobs in the sector
Tritax has no doubt that their project at Hinckley will proceed.
HNRFI is already supported by Maritime Group[2], who are on board to operate the site's 40-acre (16ha) rail freight interchange, capable of handling up to 16 trains per day when peak capacity is reached. Tritax says that equates to more than 83 million miles (133 million kilometres) of heavy goods vehicle movements avoided, and around 70,120 tonnes of CO2 avoided each year.
Maritime is contracted to manage the terminal. Image: (C) Maritime Transport
Hinckley is an ?800m (EUR936m) private sector initiative.
In addition to rail and road infrastructure, up to 850,000 sq m (9.1 million sq ft) of modern, rail-served, warehousing and logistics space will be provided. Tritax say around 8000 jobs will be created, and local public transport will be upgraded to support new commuter flows.
Unique statement of confidence
"HNRFI is the first development of its kind to have signed up a Rail Freight Terminal operator, Maritime Group, before a DCO has been granted," explained Andrew Dickman, Managing Director at Tritax Big Box Developments[3]. "We have worked diligently to design a project which will improve connectivity, create investment, alleviate road congestion and create a sustainable development which will benefit Leicestershire." Hinckley is not a new project.
RailFreight.com has carried reports periodically since 2020[4]. However, the change of ruling party in the British government has signalled a significant change in the planning process, with a presumption towards granting applications like Hinckley. The end may not be in sight, but perhaps the beginning is just over the horizon.
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References
- ^ East Midlands Gateway (www.railfreight.com)
- ^ supported by Maritime Group (www.railfreight.com)
- ^ Tritax Big Box Developments (www.tritaxbigbox.co.uk)
- ^ periodically since 2020 (www.railfreight.com)
- ^ See the offer (www.railfreight.com)