Following an intensive 6 months, the DCO Examination for Northampton Gateway Strategic Rail Freight Interchange closed on 9 April 2019. This concludes nearly 3 years of work for us, during which we developed and agreed the transport mitigation package for the scheme with Highways England and Northamptonshire County Council – including a major upgrade of M1 J15 and the A45, and a bypass for the village of Roade. We prepared the Transport Assessment and Technical Notes that supported the Environmental Statement, attended various consultation events with the public, parish councils and other stakeholders, and provided expert witness services throughout the Examination and at the hearings held by the Planning Inspectorate. We now have to wait until 9 October for the Planning Inspectorate to make their recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport, and for the Secretary of State to make the final decision.
