Plans have been put forward by Ashfield Land to build a 60ha Strategic Rail Freight Interchange near Northampton.

The interchange will feature up to 8 million sq ft of rail-linked and rail-served warehousing and rail infrastructure alongside additional infrastructure, reports Logistics Manager.

In one of its reports, Ashfield presented its plans for the scheme named Rail Central to the Planning Inspectorate. The plans were for the area next to the West Coast Main Line, close to Blisworth village in Northampton.

The plans detailed that the Strategic Rail freight Interchange would provide 8 million sq ft of storage buildings, rail infrastructure, service depot and HGV facilities. The area will also include hotel and public/house restaurant facilities, associated access, highways and landscaping and infrastructure works.

In the report, Ashfield continued that the nature of the proposed development meant that there will need to be some flexibility for the design and layout of some of its parts.

It's expected that the plans will be fully submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by the first quarter of 2017.