CPRE Leicestershire responds in partnership with Sapcote Parish Council to Secretary of State regarding HNRFI

During the past few weeks CPRE Leicestershire has been working with Sapcote Parish council in order to respond to the Secretary of State regarding the impacts of HNRFI transport infrastructure on the village of Sapcote.

We are committed to building strong partnerships with Leicestershire Parish Councils to work together to protect their villages and surrounding countryside.

The Introduction of the Response submitted in February 2025 can be read below, with a link to the PDF download of the full, detailed, submission.

INTRODUCTION:

Our response to the Interim Decision by the Secretary of State on the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI). It has been prepared jointly by CPRE Leicestershire and Sapcote Parish Council.

It addresses

• The specific issue of HGVs through Sapcote.
• Wider modelling implications of Tritax’s change in position on how many HGVs would be going through the village.
• Changes in targets for modal shift.
• The introduction of an additional bus service
• Issues relating to motorway junctions

We understand there will be concerns from residents of Narborough in relation to the Narborough Level Crossing but consider they are better able to address that.

We also share concerns that there may be equality implications for residents of the Aston Firs Travellers site, and would urge those to be fully addressed.

Most important of all:

1. We do not consider the proposals set out in Sapcote address the fundamental issues facing that village but would make matters worse and the strong conclusion of the Examining Authority still stands:

In our view the Proposed Development would lead to an unacceptable highway safety risk in the village of Sapcote, which could not be mitigated within the terms of the Application. (3.3.539)

2. We are also concerned that the impact on the motorway junctions may be worse than is anticipated.

We do not think the plans should go ahead while this is still the case. 

CPRE leicestershire HNRFI 20038675 and Sapcote Parish Council 20039514 response to secretary of state(1)