The developer behind a controversial £750m rail freight hub in the west Leicestershire countryside says it has temporarily pulled its planning application in order to add new information.
Tritax Symmetry wants to build the 440 acre Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange between Hinckley and the village of Elmesthorpe.
The vast scheme, just off the M69 and along the Leicester to Birmingham railway line, has drawn criticism from local councils, MPs and residents who say the public consultation has not been up to scratch.
Tritax Symmetry said it will create thousands of jobs, bring investment to the area and take polluting trucks off the roads.
A planning inspector was due to decide this month if the rail hub and warehousing should go through to the next round of consultations prior to a six-month examination phase – including hearings – later this year. A decision was expected by the middle of next year.
Now Tritax Symmetry says it has temporarily withdrawn the application following discussions with the Planning Inspectorate in order to submit an additional “minor” piece of information at the inspectorate’s request. It said it relates to a greenhouse gas emissions and carbon assessment for the construction of offsite highway works.
The commercial property developer said the updated application will probably be resubmitted this month.
Nick Payne, development director at Tritax Symmetry said: “Working collaboratively with the Planning Inspectorate, we have temporarily withdrawn the application in order to submit an additional minor piece of information at their request, on a Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Embodied Carbon Assessment for construction of the offsite highway works.
"Unfortunately, the strict Development Consent Order process does not allow us to submit further information at this stage, so we have to withdraw and then resubmit.”
“We remain committed to delivering on our plans to invest in Leicestershire and create opportunities for local people and will be looking to submit the updated application to the Planning Inspectorate shortly.”
