Rail hub decision a victory for borough residents
The Borough Council has warmly welcomed the government’s decision to turn down planning permission for a massive new Rail Hub on land outside Hinckley.
The Secretary of State has today turned down planning permission for the scheme from developers Tritax Symmetry for 650 acres of land outside Hinckley and based close to Junction 2 of the M69 next to Burbage Common.
Last year the Planning Inspectorate recommended that consent should not be given for the massive development, but in September the Secretary of State delayed the decision, seeking further information. Today the Secretary of State has decided that development consent should be refused.
Locally, councillors and campaigners repeatedly raised concerns about the permanent blight this development would have had on Burbage Common as well as the impact on residents and businesses. Campaigners feared the extra car and HGV movements the development would generate would have severely impacted the road network and particularly the key junctions around the M1, M69 and A5.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Leader Stuart Bray said: “We are delighted the Secretary of State has rejected this environmentally disastrous scheme outright today.
“There are plenty of logistics operations already thriving in more appropriate locations in this area. These existing businesses offer massive opportunities for growth without the huge environmental cost to wildlife and the impact of noise, light and traffic this development would have had on local residents.”
The letter published on the National Infrastructure Planning website can be read here: TR050007-002715-D03 - Notice of SoS Decision REFUSED - 10 March 2025.pdf
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