An MP is set to raise concerns over a planned 440-acre rail freight interchange in Parliament this week.
South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa, who opposes plans for the £550 million Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange, near the tiny village of Elmesthorpe, has secured a Parliamentary debate to discuss the issue.
It will take place at 4pm on Tuesday June 14, in Westminster Hall. The Tory MP is worried about the site’s impact on the local environment, the large increase in HGVs and the potential repercussions for Narborough Railway Station and its level crossing, which are a few miles away.
Tritax Symmetry wants to build on land near Hinckley in the west of the county, with a slip-road onto junction 2 of the M69.
The developer has said the site could contribute an estimated £316 million to the economy each year and generate around £24.65 million of annual business rates.
It has said there would be more than 9 million sq ft of warehouse and logistics space – 7 million sq ft at ground level and 2.1 million sq ft at mezzanine level.
It wants the 14-warehouse industrial estate – including one 1.5 million sq ft warehouse – to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It has said it could eventually create 8,400 jobs.
The buildings would go up on fields south of the existing Leicester to Hinckley railway track and to the west of the motorway.
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There would be new sidings and freight transfer facilities on a 34 acre plot alongside the track – which is part of Network Rail’s ‘F2N’ freight route between Felixstowe and Nuneaton.
A formal consultation closed in April and it is understood the developer will aim to formally submit a planning application this autumn with a decision likely toward the latter part of next year.
Mr Costa has joined the Leader of Blaby District Council, Coun Terry Richardson, in criticising the consultation carried out by developers saying people had complained about the lack of detail from Tritax and their lack of preparation in being able to answer questions about the proposals. The developer extended the consultation as a result.
Mr Costa said: “I am looking forward to once again raising the very understandable concerns many of my constituents have over the plans for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange.
“This is a gargantuan development that would concrete over beautiful South Leicestershire countryside, and with the associated huge increase of HGV movements, it has real potential to overwhelm the local infrastructure of the neighbouring Fosse Villages.
“I share my constituent’s considerable disappointment at the lack of detail and expertise displayed by the developers during the recent consultation process.
“It was clear that this did very little to address local people’s concerns, and therefore this debate is an important opportunity to ensure that the voices of my constituents are heard at the very highest levels.
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“This site has the potential to cause a significant degree of disruption for residents across South Leicestershire, not only in terms of the extra traffic from HGVs, but also in extending the time the level crossing is down for residents in Narborough, so there are many important questions which need to be answered and I look forward to putting these to the Minister on Tuesday afternoon.”
Coun Mike Shirley is Blaby District Councillor for the Stanton & Flamville Ward and chairman of Sharnford Parish Council.
He said: “This development is not needed and will be detrimental to the rural area and surrounding villages.”
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