Press release

Northampton Gateway Rail Freight Interchange proposal granted development consent

Today, Thursday 10 October 2019, the application for the Northampton Gateway Rail Freight Interchange development near Northampton has been given development consent by the Secretary of State for Transport.

Freight wagons

Development consent has been given for a Rail Freight Interchange (RFI) together with landscaping, access and other supporting infrastructure works. The proposed project consists of: An intermodal freight terminal including container storage and HGV parking, new road infrastructure and works to the existing road network, including provision of a new access and associated works to the A508, a new bypass to the village of Roade, and substantial improvements to Junction 15 of the M1.

The project is located at Land west of the A508, south west of M1 Junction 15 and east of Northampton Loop Line.

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Roxhill Developments Limited on the 21 May 2018 and accepted for examination on 15 June 2018. Following An examination during which the public, statutory consultees and interested parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, a recommendation was made to the Secretary of State on 09 July 2019.

The Planning Inspectorate’s Chief Executive, Sarah Richards said:

“The Planning Inspectorate is committed to giving local communities the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in the six month long examination. The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to those local views.”

“The Planning Inspectorate has again demonstrated its ability to examine Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) within timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008 which provides developers and investors with the confidence to build and improve the infrastructure this country needs to secure future economic growth.”

The decision announced today supports the recommendation made by the Examining Authority. It is the 79th Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project to be examined and decided and brings the total of transport projects to 24.

The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation is publicly available on the National Infrastructure Planning website.

ENDS

Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning

Inspectorate Press Office, on: 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email:

Press.office@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Notes to editors:

The Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure Programme of Projects details the proposals which are anticipated to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate as applications in the coming months. It can be viewed at https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/

Published 10 October 2019