A comprehensive consultation response from Blaby District Council to the developers of the proposed Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange has stated that the plans cannot be supported.

Scrutinising the proposals against both local and national planning policies, the Council’s technical response from Officers has concluded that the Rail Freight Interchange does not appear to provide the ability for most planned units to be rail connected. This brings into question the whole principle of the proposal.

Other concerns include major issues with the amount of development proposed and a significant shortfall in any biodiversity value, minimising landscape harm and poor consideration to the planned rerouted foot and cycle paths.

Blaby District Council is also disappointed at missing and inaccurate information in the plans. Transport modelling information, including highways mitigation and the impact on the level crossing at Narborough Railway Station have been poorly assessed in the proposals. In addition, the claimed business rate benefit for the Council from the development is inaccurate, as well as a potential miscalculation of the total number of employees by up to 20%.

Seven of the twenty-one sections in consultation response have received a ‘Strongly Negative’ conclusion, with six others receiving a ‘Negative’ conclusion. No sections received a positive summary following the Officer’s scrutiny.

The Council’s 36-page consultation response to the consultation can be found at www.blaby.gov.uk/national-rail-freight

Blaby District Council is a statutory consultee with a crucial role to play in the examination process but will not be deciding the application. Due to the size of the proposed development it is classed as a “Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project” and any decision will be made by the Secretary of State for Transport.