Rail freight hub plans move ahead as scheme clears judicial review period
Plans to deliver an intermodal freight terminal in the West Midlands are moving forward as the scheme has now cleared the judicial review period following a Development Consent Order (DCO) being granted in May.
The scheme’s promoter Four Ashes says the site will boost economic growth through its location in the M54 Wolverhampton – Staffordshire High Growth Zone.
As well as helping to attract more global business and investment, the scheme will create 8,550 direct jobs. It is expected to generate £427m of local economic activity each year and, through the supply chain, create £912m a year of economic activity nationally.
The proposed scheme has been designed to increase the efficiency of freight distribution, taking freight traffic off motorways and trunk roads and onto the rail network. This will also reduce CO2 emissions emitted by freight transport; rail freight produces up to 70% less CO2 and up to 15 times lower noxious emissions than road freight tonne for tonne.
It has the ability to deliver up to 7.8 m sq ft of warehousing, is adjacent to Junction 12 of the M6 and lies directly on the West Coast Main Line.
Warehouse footprints in excess of 1.5m sq ft will be possible and building heights of between and 20m and 30m have been approved in the planning consent.
The site will have direct connections to the West Coast Mainline, one of the strategic rail freight routes.
Four Ashes is currently putting plans in place to approach funders and development teams in order to market the site and start construction as soon as possible.
Eastdil Secured has been retained as advisor on marketing the site.
