Strategic Rail Freight Interchange
Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) - January 2023 Update
In December 2022, Hertfordshire County Council considered a report entitled: ‘Decision On The Future Use Of The Former Radlett Airfield, North Orbital Road, St Albans’, which can be seen at:
Hertfordshire County Council’s Cabinet made a Decision based on that report as set out in its draft Minutes at:
Decision
10.4 Cabinet:
a) Noted the offer received for a purchase of the Site from Segro as detailed in the Part II report;
b) agreed, in principle, to the disposal of the Site to Segro, subject to the restrictions at (c) below;
c) delegated to the Executive Director of Resources/Deputy Chief Executive the authority to agree the terms of disposal of the Site and thereafter dispose of the Site, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Executive Member for Resources and Performance, provided that the disposal price is in excess of the figure noted in the Part II report and further provided that the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Resources shall take all reasonable steps to mitigate the risk (subject to legal advice) of breach of planning conditions by the proposed purchaser; and
d) agreed to report the proposal to Full Council.
Enquiries
Residents who are looking to raise general issues or queries can contact the developer directly using the following weblink:
https://www.segro.com/countries-repository/united-kingdom/segro-logistics-park-radlett
Planning History
Planning Permissions and Certificate of Lawfulness Toggle accordion
5/2009/0708 - Outline planning application (approval of means of access, siting and landscaping only) for the development of Strategic Rail Freight Interchange comprising intermodal area, distribution buildings (Class B8 use) and other related floorspace (Class B1/B2 use) up to 331,655 sqm with a maximum height of 20 metres together with associated road, rail and other infrastructure works including parking for up to 1602 cars and 617 lorries with earth mounding, tree planting and a new Park Street/Frogmore relief road. Includes additional landscape and other works on further sites to provide public access to open land and community forest. The overall proposals involve some 419 hectares refused 21/07/09 allowed at appeal 14/07/14.
5/2016/3006 - Approval of Reserved Matters (Development) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 16/05/18
5/2017/1938 - Approval of Reserved Matters (infrastructure) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 16/05/18
5/2017/1995 - Approval of Reserved Matters (landscaping) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 16/05/18
5/2020/0509 - Certificate of Lawfulness (existing) - The carrying out of operations comprising the digging of two trenches which contain the foundations to part of the Visitor Information Centre in compliance with the requirements of planning permission 5/2009/0708 dated 14/07/2014 granted 06/07/2
Discharge of Conditions Toggle accordion
5/2016/2881 Discharge of Conditions 19 (area 2 ponds) and 20 (translocation of acid grassland) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 10/8/18
5/2016/2962 - Discharge of Condition 17 (drainage) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 15/06/18
5/2016/2963 - Discharge of Condition 25.1 (noise) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 15/06/18
5/2016/3003 - Discharge of Condition 21 (protected species) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 28/09/18
5/2016/3004 - Discharge of Condition 27 (refuse) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 15/06/18
5/2016/3005 - Discharge of Condition 28 (renewable energy) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 28/09/18
5/2016/3013 - Discharge of Condition 24.1 (contamination) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 part discharge 09/07/19
5/2016/3187 - Discharge of Condition 23 (archaeology) of Outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 17/08/18
5/2017/0865 - Discharge of Condition 31.1 (countryside management plan) and 31.2 (landscape management plan) of Outline planning permission 5/2009/0708, approved 28/09/18
5/2017/1168 - Discharge of Condition 14 (construction method statement) of Outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 10/08/18
5/2017/2599 - Discharge of Condition 30 (Cycle Storage) of planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 27/06/18
5/2019/0020 - Discharge of Condition 17.2 (No development to commence until drainage provision provided for areas 3 - 8) to planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 01/03/19
5/2019/1440 - Discharge of Condition 7 (details of visitor centre building and associated facilities at Hedges Farm in Area 1) of planning permission 5/2017/1995 dated 15/05/2018 for Approval of Reserved Matters (landscaping) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 20/08/19
5/2019/1449 Discharge of Condition 2 (planting and landscape hardworks Area 1) of planning permission 5/2017/1995 dated 15/05/2018 for Approval of Reserved Matters (landscaping) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 20/08/19
5/2019/1450 - Discharge of Condition 9 (details of leisure and recreational facilities) of planning permission 5/2017/1995 dated 15/05/2018 for Approval of Reserved Matters (landscaping) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 partially approved 20/08/19
5/2019/1452 - Discharge of Condition 3 (planting and landscaping hardworks Areas 1 & 2 for use as a country park) of planning permission 5/2017/1995 dated 15/05/2018 for Approval of Reserved Matters (landscaping) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 20/08/19
5/2019/1464 - Discharge of Condition 10 (details of public footpaths, bridleways and multi user routes in Areas 1 to 8) of planning permission 5/2017/1995 dated 15/05/2018 for Approval of Reserved Matters (landscaping) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 27/09/19
5/2019/1466 Discharge of Condition 4 (planting and landscape hardworks country park in Areas 1 & 2 and country park in Areas 3 to 6) of planning permission 5/2017/1995 dated 15/05/2018 for Approval of Reserved Matters (landscaping) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 partially approved 21/08/19
5/2019/1617 - Discharge of Condition 11 (steering group) of planning permission 5/2017/1995 dated 16/05/2018 for Approval of Reserved Matters (landscaping) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 30/09/19
5/2019/2064 - Partial Discharge of Condition 18 (piling) in respect of visitor centre only of planning permission 5/2009/0708 partially approved 25/10/19
5/2020/2278 - Discharge of Condition 6.4 (Park Street Bypass Phase 2 Works) of planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 2/11/20
5/2020/2706 - Discharge of Condition 11 (control over the southern roundabout) of planning permission on appeal 5/2009/0708 approved 11/02/21
5/2020/2707 - Discharge of Condition 9 (travel and freight monitoring and management plan) of planning permission 5/2009/0708 pending
5/2020/2787 - Discharge of Conditions 12.8 (delivery of rail works report) and 13.3 (rail works written report) of planning permission 5/2009/0708 partially approved 12/07/21
5/2020/2920 - Discharge of Conditions 12.8 (delivery of rail works report) and 13.3 (rail works written report) of planning permission 5/2009/0708 partially approved 12/07/21
5/2021/1965 - Discharge of Conditions 12.8 (delivery of rail works report) and 13.3 (rail works written report) of planning permission 5/2009/0708 partially approved 07/07/21
5/2021/3205 - Discharge of Conditions 12.8 (delivery of rail works report) and 13.3 (rail works written report) of planning permission 5/2009/0708 partially approved 15/12/21
5/2022/1418 - Discharge of Conditions 12.8 (delivery of rail works report) and 13.3 (rail works written report) of planning permission 5/2009/0708 07/07/22
5/2022/2730 - Discharge of Conditions 12.8 (delivery of rail works report) and 13.3 (rail works written report) of planning permission 5/2009/0708 partially approved 02/12/22
Amendments Toggle accordion
5/2019/0787 - Non Material Amendment - To amend the trigger points of Conditions 4, 9 and 10 of the Landscape RMA for Areas 7 and 8 of planning permission 5/2017/1995 dated 16/05/2018 for Approval of Reserved Matters (landscaping) of outline planning permission 5/2009/0708 approved 23/04/19
5/2019/1084 - Non Material Amendment - To amend wording of conditions 24.1 (contamination) and 24.3 (remediation) of planning permission 5/2009/0708 dated 14th July 2014 for Outline planning application (approval of means of access, siting and landscaping only) for the development of Strategic Rail Freight Interchange approved 08/05/19
Update on railfreight interchange, Park Street - January 2019
On 14th July 2014, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government granted planning permission for a rail freight interchange at a site in Park Street. The outline planning permission agreed the principle of the rail freight development in this location, together with the means of access, siting of the development and landscaping scheme.
- Development Site, i.e. buildings, intermodal, car parks, internal roads.
- Infrastructure reserved matters, i.e. the bypass, northern gateway, southern access and rail chord.
- Landscaping reserved matters, details approved as specified in Condition 15.
The site locations
The broad locations for the Railfreight site are outlined in red and can be viewed on the map below.
The Landscape Masterplan
The illustrative masterplan for Areas 1 to 8 of the development area can be viewed on the map below.
3 July 2015
Council decides not to take forward appeal on rail freight Court decision.
See Press Release.
29 June 2015
22 August 2014
The Council lodged a claim in the High Court challenging the Secretary of State's decision to grant planning permission. See Council press release.
14 July 2014
A decision notice was received by the Council on 14 July 2014 in which the Secretary of State grants planning permission for rail freight interchange in Park Street. See Council press release.
09 April 2014
Response from St Albans City and District Council to the DCLG's letter from 01 April and attachments.
01 April 2014
Letter from DCLG dated 01 April 2014 inviting final comments on the representations received.
Representations made in response to DCLG letter of 14 March 2014 are at the links below:
- 14-03-25 RESPONSE from Aldenham PC - Mar14 (PDF - 171 kb)
- 14-03-26 RESPONSE from James Clappison MP (PDF - 123 kb)
- 14-03-27 RESPONSE from Barton Wilmore (PDF - 427 kb)
- 14-03-27 RESPONSE from RSGBA (PDF - 291 kb)
- 14-03-28 RESPONSE from CPRE Herts (PDF - 104 kb)
- 14-03-28 RESPONSE Herts - Cabinet Minutes 09122013 (PDF - 36 kb)
- 14-03-28 RESPONSE Herts - letter to DCLG of 19.12.13 (PDF - 61 kb)
- 14-03-28 RESPONSE Herts - letter of 28.03.14 (PDF - 441 kb)
- 14-03-28 RESPONSE Hogan Lovells - covering ltr (PDF - 54 kb)
- 14-03-28 RESPONSE Hogan Lovells - Note 1 (PDF - 28 kb)
- 14-03-28 RESPONSE Hogan Lovells - Note 2 (PDF - 14 kb)
- 14-03-28 RESPONSE Hogan Lovells - Note 3. (PDF - 208 kb)
- 14-03-28 RESPONSE St Albans DC (PDF - 149 kb)
- 14-03-31 RESPONSE DfT - DfT letter to DCLG (PDF - 106 kb)
- 14-03-31 RESPONSE DfT - DfT letter to Network Rail (PDF - 96 kb)
- 14-03-31 RESPONSE DfT - Network Rail letter (PDF - 251 kb)
14 March 2014
- 14-03-04 Wayne Leighton response (PDF - 119 kb)
- 14-03-05 Anne Main MP response (PDF - 609 kb)
- 14-03-05 Anne Main MP response attachment (PDF - 89 kb)
- 14-03-05 CPRE Hertfordshire no comment (PDF - 39 kb)
- 14-03-05 Hogan Lovells response (PDF - 47 kb)
- 14-03-06 Barton Willmore obo Goodman (PDF - 160 kb)
- 14-03-06 St Albans response (PDF - 716 kb)
- 14-03-14 Letter 2 after s106 Radlett (PDF - 31 kb)
- 2014-03-07 Ian M LaRiviere response (PDF - 118 kb)
- James Clappison MP response (PDF - 10 kb)
6 March 2014
Letter from St Albans City and District Council dated 6 March 2014 to DCLG commenting on S106 Obligation.
20 February 2014
9 December 2013
St Albans City & District Council has responded to an invitation from Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) related to the proposed rail freight depot at Park Street.
The District Council is making submissions regarding a report to the County Council's Cabinet at a meeting on Monday 9 December.
Mike Lovelady, Head of Legal, Democratic and Regulatory Services at St Albans City and District Council will make representations for the District Council at the meeting. The District Council has sent a letter dated 6 December 2013 outlining its submission to HCC.
5 September 2013
2 July 2013
The Council has received notification that Helioslough Ltd's application for permission to proceed with its Judicial Review against the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has been refused. Documentation is included at the link below.
17 June 2013
20 May 2013
The Council has been served with proceedings, as one of a number of interested parties, related to a High Court Judicial Review claim against the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, by Helioslough Ltd.
23 April 2013
The Council has received a copy of a letter from Hogan Lovells acting for Helioslough dated 19 April 2013 to the Treasury Solicitor in response to their letter of 16 April 2013.
18 April 2013
The Council has received a copy of a letter from the Treasury Solicitor to Hogan Lovells acting for Helioslough dated 18 April 2013.
16 April 2013
The Council has received a copy of a letter to DCLG from Hogan Lovells acting for Helioslough Ltd dated 15th April 2013.
28 March 2013
The Council responded to DCLG, in a letter dated 28 March 2013, on matters arising from letters from Hogan Lovells acting for Helioslough Ltd dated 28/02/13 and 07/03/2013.
27 March 2013
The Council has received a copy of a letter to DCLG from Hogan Lovells acting for Helioslough Ltd, dated 27 March.
22 March 2013
The Council has received a copy of the Secretary of State's Summary Grounds of Defence (Acknowledgement of Service form plus attachment) dated 22 March 2013 related to the current application for Judicial Review. We have also received a copy of Helioslough's Summary Grounds of Defence and Acknowledgement of Service form dated 22 March 2013. Additionally we have received a copy of Goodman Logistics Development (UK) Ltd's Judicial Review Acknowledgement of Service form dated 21 March 2013.
- Secretary of States Judicial Review Acknowledgement of Services Form 22032013 (PDF - 43 kb)
- Secretary of State's Summary Grounds of Defence 20130322 (PDF - 92 kb)
- Grounds of Defence - Acknowledgement of Service form Helioslough 22 March 2013 (PDF - 742 kb)
- Goodman Logistics Development UK Ltd Acknowledgement of Service form 21032013 (PDF - 99 kb)
13 March 2013
The Council wrote to DCLG on 13 March 2013, ref letters from Hogan Lovells dated 28 Feb and 7 March
07 March 2013
The Council has been sent copies of the following letters related to the proposed Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at Park Street.
05 March 2013
The Council has been sent copies of the following letters related to the proposed Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at Park Street.
01 March 2013
Press Release - 01 March 2013
Rail freight terminal latest: Council launches Judicial Review
On 14 December 2012, the Secretary of State decided not to re-open the Park Street Inquiry and conjoin it with the Colnbrook, Slough Strategic Railfreight application appeal.
St Albans City and District Council is applying for Judicial Review of his decision.
The Council’s Judicial Review application seeks to quash the decision and refer the matter back to the Secretary of State for reconsideration.
The Council is serving proceedings today against the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and against various parties with an interest in the claim. These are Helioslough Ltd, the developer of the proposed Radlett scheme; Goodman Logistics Development (UK) Limited, the company behind the proposed Colnbrook development; and Slough Borough Council.
The Council’s grounds of application can be found in its detailed statement available at: http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/planning/rail_freight_interchange.aspx
Contact for the media:
Claire Wainwright, Principal Communications and Marketing Officer, St Albans City and District Council, Tel: 01727 819572, E-mail: claire.wainwright@stalbans.gov.uk, www.stalbans.gov.uk
Grounds of application - 01 March 2013
24 January 2013
Press Release - 25 January 2013
Proposed rail freight terminal: Secretary of State agrees to Helioslough’s request for an extension to ‘planning obligation’ deadline
In a further development regarding the proposed rail freight interchange at Park Street, St Albans City & District Council has received notification of an extension to the Secretary of State’s decision making timescales.
Last month, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government said that he was “minded to approve” planning permission for the rail freight interchange subject to various conditions.
He proposed to defer his final decision on the appeal until the conditions had been met. The Secretary of State is seeking a Section 106 planning obligation - an obligation to fund various infrastructure requirements - from the developer, Helioslough.
The Secretary of State originally proposed to allow until 28 February 2013 for the planning obligation to be submitted, before proceeding to a final decision. However, in a letter dated 24 January 2013, the Secretary of State has agreed to a request from Helioslough to extend the period to 28 March 2013.
This is to allow Hertfordshire County Council’s Cabinet to consider the matter at its meeting on 25 February. The County Council owns land included in the proposed rail freight interchange site.
Contact for the media:
Claire Wainwright, Principal Communications and Marketing Officer, St Albans City and District Council, Tel: 01727 819572, E-mail: claire.wainwright@stalbans.gov.uk
(For associated correspondence links see below)
21 January 2013
Press release
21 January 2013
Council considers Secretary of State’s interim decision on rail freight terminal to be ‘flawed’
St Albans City & District Council has responded to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government’s recent letters regarding the proposed Radlett rail freight terminal near Park Street.
The Secretary of State said, in his letter of 14 December, that he had decided after all not to re-open the inquiry into the Radlett strategic rail freight terminal (SFRI) and conjoin it with an inquiry into an alternative site at Colnbrook, Slough.
In his letter of 20 December the Secretary of State said that he was “minded to approve” planning permission for the proposed interchange, subject to various conditions.
In its letters of 18 January, the Council has requested that the Secretary of State reconsider his decision not to re-open the Radlett inquiry and conjoin it with the Colnbrook inquiry.
The Council has also given notice of its intention to challenge the decision not to reopen and conjoin the inquiry through judicial review in the High Court if the Secretary of State does not meet the Council’s request. The Council sets out its reasons in detail in its letters of 18 January.
The Council has requested a response from the Secretary of State within seven days.
The Council says that it considers the Secretary of State’s interim decision, outlined in his letter dated 20 December, in which he says he is ‘minded to approve’ planning permission for the Radlett SFRI, to be flawed. It has requested that he reconsider this interim decision.
The Council maintains that the Secretary of State’s view that he sees “little reason to conclude that Colnbrook would meet the needs for an SFRI in a less harmful way” than that at Radlett, is contrary to his earlier positions in 2010 and 2012.
It believes that the interim decision fails to take into account the lack of any proper and adequate comparative assessment of the relative merits of the two sites.
The Council concludes that the Secretary of State’s assessment of the position regarding Colnbrook is entirely inconsistent with his reasoning in the original decision of July 2010 to refuse permission, and his subsequent conduct.
The Council contends that the change of position stands wholly unexplained, indicating that it considers that the interim decision was reached either on an irrational basis or by taking into account immaterial considerations.
(Note: 23 January 2013 - The Treasury Solicitor's Department wrote to confirm that they aim to respond in substance to the Council's letter by 6 February 2013)
Contact for the media:
Claire Wainwright, Principal Communications and Marketing Officer
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819572
E-mail: claire.wainwright@stalbans.gov.uk
www.stalbans.gov.uk
21 December 2012
Letter from Department for Communities and Local Government 20 December 2012
14 December 2012
The Department of Communities and Local Government wrote on 14 December 2012 to say that the Secretary of State has decided not to reopen the inquiry into a planned rail freight terminal near Park Street.
Responses to Secretary of State's letter of 12 October 2012
- 12-10-26 Barton Willmore for Goodman (PDF - 540 kb)
- 181012 Letter to Christine Symes (PDF - 69 kb)
- Helioslough Appeal - Oct12(2) (DOC - 83 kb)
- Ltr DCLG response Railfreight Appeal signed 261012 (PDF - 706 kb)
- LWDLIB03-#2966954-v1-Letter_to_Christine_Symes_at_CLG_dated_18_October_2012 (PDF - 343 kb)
- LWDLIB03-#2978341-v1-Letter_Christine_Symes_at_CLG_dated_25_October_2012 (PDF - 191 kb)
- Radlett letter 29th Oct 2012 (DOC - 110 kb)
12 October 2012
The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) had previously written to the Council (12 October 2012) asking for comments on representations received in response to the Secretary of State’s letter of 19 September(see below). This invited views on a proposal to re-open the Radlett inquiry and conjoin it with the inquiry into the appeal for a Rail/Road Freight Interchange at Colnbrook, Slough.
Representations received by the Secretary of State in response to his 19 September letter
- Radlett SFRI Response to DCLG (PDF - 134 kb)
- James Clappison MP (PDF - 7 kb)
- Wayne Leighton LLP Solicitors (PDF - 77 kb)
- Paul Stimpson - Slough Borough Council (PDF - 31 kb)
- CPRE Hertfordshire (PDF - 20 kb)
- Mike Lovelady - St Albans City and District Council (PDF - 66 kb)
- Graham Taylor - RSGBA (PDF - 212 kb)
- S Walkington and D Parry (PDF - 97 kb)
- Paula Paley Aldenham Parish Council (PDF - 170 kb)
- Peter Evans Aldenham Parish Council (PDF - 17 kb)
- Colney Heath Parish Council (PDF - 623 kb)
- Barton Wilmore (PDF - 659 kb)
- CGMS Consulting 2 (PDF - 289 kb)
- CGMS Consulting response (PDF - 57 kb)
- Anne Main MP (PDF - 52 kb)
Letter from the Department for Communities and Local Government dated 19th September 2012.
The Letter from the Department of Communities and Local Government dated 19th September 2012 and St Albans City and District Council's response to this letter dated 2nd October 2012 can be viewed below.
Background
Helioslough Ltd appealed against St Albans City & District Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for a rail freight interchange on land at the former Radlett aerodrome. A Public Inquiry was held in November and December 2009. This culminated in a decision by the Secretary of State, dated 7 July 2010, to dismiss the appeal.
The Council, in its original planning decision, considered that the rail freight proposal would cause harm to the Green Belt. It also considered that it would be contrary to the Development Plan.
Helioslough challenged the Secretary of State’s July 2010 decision in the High Court. On 1 July 2011, a High Court Judge quashed the decision on the basis of one of four grounds of challenge put forward by Helioslough. St Albans City & District Council was a second defendant in the case. The Judge found that the Secretary of State did not properly explain his reasons for disagreeing with the Planning Inspector’s recommendation that the proposed development be allowed.
The High Court referred the matter back to the Secretary of State to re-determine.
The Secretary of State invited all parties to the planning appeal, including the Council, to make further written representations. The Council made its further representations on 14 October 2011.
In a letter dated 29 March 2012, the Secretary of State informed all parties to the appeal that he had decided to delay his decision. He invited further written representations on the relevance of the recently published National Planning Policy Framework. The Council provided its representations on 16 April 2012.
The Secretary of State wrote to the Council in a letter dated 19 September 2012 to seek views on a proposal to re-open the Radlett inquiry. He proposed to join it with a planned inquiry into a proposed strategic rail freight terminal at Colnbrook near Slough. Interested parties were asked to give their views by 3 October 2012.
In a letter dated 14 December 2012, the Department for Communities and Local Government said that he has decided not to re-open the inquiry.
In a letter of 20 December 2012 the Secretary of State said that he was “minded to approve” planning permission for the proposed interchange, subject to various conditions
In its letters of 18 January 2013, the Council requested that the Secretary of State reconsider his decision not to re-open the Radlett inquiry and conjoin it with the Colnbrook inquiry. The Council also gave notice of its intention to challenge the decision not to reopen and conjoin the inquiry through judicial review in the High Court if the Secretary of State did not meet the Council’s request.
Earlier information
Representation by an Interested Party
Rule 19 of the Town and Country Plannng Inquiries procedure rules requires the Secretary of State to send to persons entitled to appear at the inquiry, and who did so, a written statement of the matters on which further representations are invited for the purposes of his further consideration of the application. The Council submitted its representations to the Secretary of State on 14 October 2011.
The Council received a further letter on behalf of the Secretary of State dated 19 October 2011 attaching copies of the representations received from other parties. The Council submitted its comments on these representations on 10 November 2011.
A copy of the Secretary of State's letter and representations are as set out below:
Appeal Representations from the Department of Communities and Local Government
Kathryn Pettit - Hertfordshire County Council
Howard Wayne - Wayne Leighton Solicitors
Wayne Leighton Solicitors - Witness Statement
Tim Welburn - Department of Transport
Sandy Walkington and David Parry Representation
Erica Mortimer - CgMs ConsultingSimon Flisher - Barton Willmore
The Council received a letter from Mr Howsham of Department for Communities and Local Government dated 29 November 2011.
Annex A to Mr Howsham's letter contains representations from the following interested parties:
St Albans City and District Council
Howard Wayne, Wayne Leighton Solicitors
Tim Wellburn, Dept for Transport
Simon Flisher, Barton WillmorePaul Stimpson, Slough Borough Council
The Council submitted further representations on 22 December 2011. The Council has also been invited to comment on the implications for the Appeal of the Department of Transport Ministerial Statement, policy guidance note on Strategic Railfrieght Interchanges and Logistics Growth Review Document issued on 29 November.
The Council has received a letter from Christine Symes of DCLG with the representations received to the Secretary of State’s letter dated 29 November 2011:
The Secretary of State having considered all the representations before him has decided that he is in a position to re-determine the Appeal. A decision will be issued on or before 5 April 2012.
Press releases
(in descending date order)
3 July 2015 : Council decides not to take forward appeal on rail freight Court decision.
29 June 2015 Council refused permission to appeal on rail freight court dismissal
13 April 2015 Council seeks permission to appeal on rail freight court dismissal.
13 March 2015 : High court rejects council's challenge on rail freight decision.
22 August 2014 Council set to challenge Secretary of State’s rail freight interchange planning decision in the High Court
14 July 2014 Secretary of State grants planning permission for rail freight interchange in Park Street
5 September 2013 council refused permission to apply for Judicial Review 20 June 2013 : Council applies to High Court for reconsideration of Judicial Review application
17 June 2013 : Council refused permission to apply for Judicial Review on rail freight planning inquiry issue
1 March 2013 : Council launches Judicial Review
25 January 2013 Secretary of State agrees to Helioslough’s request for an extension to ‘planning obligation’ deadline
21 January 2013: Council considers Secretary of State’s interim decision on rail freight terminal to be 'flawed'.
21 December 2012 : Secretary of State minded to allow appeal and grant planning permission for proposed rail freight interchange in Park Street
14 December 2012 : Secretary of State decides not to reopen rail freight planning inquiry
2 October 2012 : Council responds to Secretary of State’s proposal to re-open rail freight planning inquiry
19 September 2012 : Secretary of State considers re-opening planning inquiry on proposed rail freight interchange
30 March 2012 : Secretary of State delays decision on planning permission for proposed rail freight interchange in Park Street
3 February 2012 : Decision on rail freight terminal appeal expected by 5 April
18 October 2011 : St Albans Council makes further representations to Secretary of State on rail freight terminal planning issue
12 July 2011: Decision made not to seek leave to appeal rail freight interchange ruling
4 July 2011: Council plans to appeal High Court decision on rail freight terminal proposal
1 July 2011: St Albans City and District Council to consider appealing High Court decision on rail freight terminal proposal
08 Jul 2010: The Secretary of State overturns Helioslough’s planning appeal
30 Oct 2009: Arrangements for the Rail Freight planning inquiry
16 Oct 2009 : Outcome of the Rail Freight Planning Referrals meeting 14th October
13 Oct 2009 : Approach to Rail freight defence to be decided.
24 Aug 2009: Council prepares for Rail Freight appeal
21 July 2009: Decision on the second planning application for a Rail Freight Interchange
15 July 2009: Rail Freight Planning Referrals Committee meeting 20th July 2009
18 May 2009: Application for rail freight depot to be assessed
14 Nov 2008: Rail Freight plans to be resubmitted
17 Dec 2007 : webcast - end of the Rail Freight Planning Inquiry
12 Dec 2007 : The Rail Freight Planning Inquiry comes to a close
12 Nov 2007 : Rail Freight Planning Inquiry relocates for w/c 19 Nov
22 Oct 2007 : Additional seats for Rail Freight Planning Inquiry
02 Oct 2007 : Arrangements for the Rail Freight Planning Inquiry
19 Sep 2007 : Rail Freight Planning Inquiry to start 6th November
06 Sep 2007 : Decision on date for Rail Freight Planning Inquiry
12 Jul 2007 : Rail Freight Planning Inquiry update
04 Jun 2007 : Rail Freight Planning Appeal
20 Feb 2007 : Decision on the Rail Freight Planning application
22 Dec 2006 : Rail Freight Planning application update
08 Nov 2006 : webcast of Rail Freight meeting
02 Nov 2006 : Rail Freight Planning committee decision
23 Oct 2006 : Rail Freight Planning Referrals Committee meeting
13 Oct 2006 : Rail Freight Planning Referrals Committee 1st November
Frequently asked questions
- What does the planning application involve?
- Is the land concerned included in the application Green Belt land?
What does the planning application involve?
This is an outline planning application (approval of means of access, siting and landscaping only) for the development of a Strategic Rail Freight interchange, comprising intermodel area, distribution buildings (Class B8 use) and other related floorspace (Class B1/B2 use) up to 331,655 square metres with a maximum height of 20 metres together with associated roads, rail and other infrastructure works including parking for up to 1602 cars and 617 lorries with earth mounding, tree planting and a new Park Street/Frogmore relief road. It includes additional landscape and other works on further sites to provide public access to open land and community forest. The overall proposals involve some 419 hectares.