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Second attempt at giant Suffolk freight terminal
Page 19
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PLANS TO BUILD a major freight distribution depot in the heart of the Suffolk countryside have been revived four years after the ambitious project stalled over environmental considerations.
Commercial property agents Bidwells says its client, a consortium of developers which requested planning permission for the freight hub in 2003, has submitted a new application for 120,000m2 of warehouse space. Bidwells says if it gets the green light it will divert 1.800 lorry journeys from Felixstowe port to its depot.
The consortium behind Stowmarket Multi Modal Distribution Park (SMMDP) hopes to get a decision by the autumn.
If approved, the depot will be built between the main rail line and the A1120 feeder road from the A14 to Stowmarket.
Mike Carpenter, head of planning at Bidwells, says SMMDP submitted an environmental impact assessment as well as its application to demonstrate the environmental credentials of the depot.
And he believes the project's time has come: "With the permission for expansion of Bathside Bay and the landside terminal at Felixstowe there's a requirement on operators to do their very best to move freight onto rail. Felixstowe is also looking to increase container sizesso all of a sudden there are lots more containers moving around for the good of the UK economy."
"There's very little other land in Felixstowe to accommodate this sort of use," he adds.
A Mid Suffolk District Council spokeswoman confirms it received an application from SMMDP on 18 May: "This is an outline application. If it goes ahead, more things will be required and submitted at a later stage."