An MP has claimed the go-ahead for an eight-million sq ft Northamptonshire logistics terminal could wipe out unemployment in his constituency. The developers of the DIRFT III site at Daventry say it will create at least 9,000 jobs.
After three months of consideration the Secretary of State for Transport has granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the DIRFT — Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal — scheme which includes the construction of a new rail link and the building of a vast complex of distribution and storage facilities.
Located next to the M1 motorway and the west coast mainline, and known locally as the Rugby Radio Station site, the land is jointly owned by British Telecom (BT) and Aviva Investors. The distribution hub plans were drawn-up in partnership with the US-based global logistics provider Prologis.
The expansion of the existing rail freight terminal involves the construction and operation of a new interchange, together with new transhipment sidings, container storage, a heavy goods vehicle reception area, and up to eight-million sq ft of rail and road served storage and a “strategic” open space.
DIRFT III is the first rail freight Interchange to secure a DCO in line with the Planning Act 2008 and will be become the UK’s largest rail and road integrated logistics development. Site preparation work will start before the end of the year and Prologis anticipates the first buildings will be ready for occupation by the end of 2016.
Following the granting of development consent, future decisions on reserved planning matters, such as the phasing of the development and detailed design approval on the siting of buildings and rail infrastructure, landscaping and earthworks, will be made by Daventry District Council.
“This has been a long time coming,” said the town’s MP, Chris Heaton-Harris, who added he was looking forward to working with Prologis and neighbouring communities “to ensure that everyone locally benefits from this massive investment … With potentially up to 9,000 new jobs being created in the coming years DIRFT III could help eliminate unemployment across my constituency.”
It is a view shared by Chris Over, who holds the economic, regeneration and employment portfolio on Daventry council. “The expansion of DIRFT reaffirms our area as an important, strategic location for an international business hub,” he said. “It is a real boost for local jobs and for attracting fresh investment into our district which continues to be the council’s top priorities.”
The transport secretary’s department did receive some objections to the scheme, mainly from nearby residents with noise and traffic concerns.
In reply the Planning Inspectorate’s chief executive, Simon Ridley, said: “A major priority for us over the course of the examination was to ensure that communities who might be affected by this proposal had the opportunity to put forward their views. As always, the examining authority gave careful consideration to these before reaching a conclusion.”
