Tritax re-submitted a formal application on the 17th March 2023 to develop the HNRFI.
On 13th April the Planning Inspectorate decided the application meets their requirements – and have accepted it for examination – this is known as the ‘Pre-examination stage and means the Planning Inspectorate has approximately three months to prepare for the Examination. Individuals had opportunity to register as an Interested Party to provide comments on the project with the Planning Inspectorate and registration closed on 23 June 2023. Stoney Stanton Action Group submitted comments and registered as an Interested Party.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
You will be able to view the Relevant Representations here shortly.
The Applicant (Tritax Symmetry (Hinckley) Limited) must certify to the Planning Inspectorate that it has complied with its application notification requirements.
The Examining Authority, once appointed, will carry out an Initial Assessment of Principal Issues derived from its reading of the application and the Relevant Representations received and set a date for the Preliminary Meeting.
Interested Parties will receive an invitation to the Preliminary Meeting which is to discuss procedural matters only, and is held in public. It is not essential to attend the Preliminary Meeting. Whether or not an Interested Party chooses to attend the Preliminary Meeting, they will still be sent details of how to further take part in the Examination.
What is the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI)?
A huge industrial warehouse complex – expected to consist of up to 850,000 square metres of warehouses. The rail interchange would be capable of accommodate up to 16 trains up to 775m (0.48 miles) in length – and is expected to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
How big is it?
In area within the DCO Order Limits Boundary (main site) would be about 830 acres – which would currently dwarf Stoney Stanton.
HNRFI will cover an area 5 times the size of that being built along the A5 near Hinckley Island (Hinckley Park). Take a look at this video showing the scale of Hinckley Park, multiply it by 5 and imagine the colossal size and devastation of the proposed HNRFI. Given the speculative nature of Hinckley Park, we should question whether it’s really necessary to build another warehousing facility so close?
Where exactly is it planned?
In a huge wedge of predominantly farmland, between the M69 and the Hinckley rail line next to Burbage Common – It will stretch from junction 2 of the M69 to Elmesthorpe. (see the above size comparison graphic for location)
What does this mean for our village and surrounding area?
The scale of scheme means it will have a considerable impact on the environment, landscape, and roads in the area:
- Destroying the natural habitat for a huge numbers of different species – Decimating valuable farm and wood land forever
- Increasing light, noise and environmental pollution to all surrounding villages – Increasing the traffic through Stoney Stanton to get to the HNRFI or many more commuters wanting to travel South on the M69
- High levels of traffic pollution – Increased accident risk to the village centre
- Thousands more HGV‟s to our already busy roads – Only expecting up to l0% of freight by rail, if any. The rest will be by road
- Jobs created will be minimal and over-time will be replaced by automation – Take up to 15 years to build and cause massive disruption to our villages
- Bring no economic value to the immediate area
Why can’t Blaby District Council say “no”?
The development is being proposed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and so, whilst local councils are consulted, the final decision is made by the Secretary of State. The following video provides an overview of the NSIP process. NB. HNRFI is currently in the Pre-application stage.
When are we being consulted on this?
Tritax undertook an informal consultation in 2018 and a Highways consultation in 2019. As part of the pre-application stage of the process, Tritax also carried out a Statutory and Public Consultation, which ran from 12 January 2022 for 8 weeks.
As part of this consulations, material and exhibitions will be available online and at local venues. The full details of how Tritax will engage with the community is laid out in the Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC). The two files which comprise this can be downloaded below or from the project website.
Should you want to view the Webinars, these can be seen here project website.
What can I do about this?
Please support the Stoney Stanton Action Group using the form above! We’ll help you to write to the right people at the right time and we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.