Major rail hub which could create 8,500 jobs given go-ahead
A huge rail hub in Staffordshire, which developers say could create up to 8,500 jobs, has been given the green light.
The Department for Transport gave the go-ahead for the West Midlands Interchange despite a four-year protest from some residents as well as Education Secretary and local MP Gavin Williamson.
Campaigners are worried that the development on greenbelt land will destroy the countryside and cause traffic congestion.
However the developer, Four Ashes – a consortium headed by rail infrastructure specialist Kilbride Holdings – say it could create up to 8,500 jobs, as well as ease HGV congestion on busy roads.
The West Midlands Interchange will see around 700 acres of land transformed near to the A5, A449 and M6 at Gailey, Four Ashes and Calf Heath.
The rail hub would be linked directly to the West Coast Mainline and allow freight to be moved from rail to lorries. The site will be able to handle trains up to 775m long and will include HGV parking, container storage and rail control buildings
The application for the development was approved on by Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps.
Sarah Richards, the Planning Inspectorate’s chief executive, said: “This is the 84th nationally significant infrastructure project to have been examined and decided within the timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008.
“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 a six-month long examination.
“The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to local views before making their recommendation.”
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for economic growth Mark Winnington said: “The county council did not approve of this proposal due to its location in the South Staffordshire green belt.
“We were a consultee on the plans and have worked from the beginning to ensure Four Ashes does everything it can to mitigate its impact on local communities.
“This includes minimising environmental damage and the resulting pressure on roads and services. We will be reviewing the detail to make sure all the infrastructure we asked for has been secured, particularly around HGV movements and parking.
“As a council we have signed up to a climate change emergency motion and therefore now this development has been approved it is essential that the rail terminal is delivered first as part of the scheme. Our priority remains on ensuring there is maximum mitigation and appropriate compensation to affected communities.”
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP chairman Alun Rogers added: “We will be working with our partners to ensure that the impact on residents in South Staffordshire and the local infrastructure is mitigated. This will be a significant development which we know has faced local opposition and as an LEP we represent the interests of our communities and businesses.
“Now the Government has now taken this decision to approve the scheme we will press to ensure the mitigation measures included in the original proposals are delivered.
“As the scheme develops, we will be doing all we can to make the case for inclusion of advanced manufacturing businesses on site along with logistics. The logistics sector does play an important part in our local industrial strategy and the wider economy. This site has the potential to create up to 8,500 jobs which we welcome, with a further 8,200 in supply chain and associated businesses. We want to see as many of these jobs as possible being higher value which will benefit our residents.
“As the government is currently out to consultation on freeports, we would also like to see the design of this site incorporate potential adaption if needed.”
