Transport consultancy for DIRFT III
- Client Name
- RRSLP and Prologis UK
- Location
- Daventry, Northamptonshire, UK
Challenge
In July 2014, the Government gave the green light for an expansion to the existing Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal. This would provide a new rail link to a replacement intermodal terminal, transshipment sidings, container storage, HGV parking and up to 731,000 sq m of rail served storage and distribution facilities.
The Planning Act 2008 introduced a new planning regime for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), including major transport related schemes. DIRFT III was the first Strategic Rail Freight Interchange to secure consent through this process and will be the largest rail-linked logistics development in the UK.
Solution
We were the transport consultant to RRSLP and Prologis UK for DIRFT III and played a critical role in both the preparation of the Development Consent Order (DCO) application and throughout the examination itself.
Impact
Our role included the development of a comprehensive transport strategy, which was based on a significant number of employees travelling to the site by non-car modes, particularly DIRFT III specific bus services.
A package of off-site improvements was also agreed, including new facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, along with junction improvements to mitigate the impacts of employee and operational vehicles. A complex microsimulation model of the highway network was used to assess the potential impacts.
