Rail freight hub near Burbage REFUSED

The Government has announced that permission for a massive new Rail Hub on land near Junction 2 of the M69 near Burbage has been refused.

The Secretary of State has turned down planning permission for the scheme from developers Tritax Symmetry to build on 650 acres of land close to Burbage Common.

Last year the Planning Inspectorate recommended that consent should not be given but in September the Secretary of State delayed the decision, seeking further information.

County, Borough and Parish Councillors, together with local campaigners repeatedly raised concerns about the permanent blight this development would have caused to the Common as well as the impact on residents and businesses.

It was feared that 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, pictured, who is also a Burbage Parish Councillor, 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 announcing the decision, published on the National Infrastructure Planning website, can be read here: TR050007-002715-D03 - Notice of SoS Decision REFUSED - 10 March 2025.pdf