West Midlands Interchange

What happens next

A decision on the application for a Development Consent Order for West Midlands Interchange was taken on 04 May 2020 and has now been issued.

The period for legal challenge is defined in s118 of the Planning Act 2008. Further information about legal challenge can be found in the letter sent to all Interested Parties accompanying the Secretary of State’s decision and statement of reasons.

If you have any queries about the process please email the Planning Inspectorate at [email protected] or telephone the helpline on 0303 444 5000.

Timeline (28 items)

The Secretary of State for Transport has today issued a letter (PDF, 139KB) confirming those parties that the Applicant should consult regarding a proposed non-material change application relating to the West Midlands Interchange 2020 (PDF, 2MB)

18 May 2023

On 21 October 2020, the Secretary of State for Transport issued a Correction Order (PDF, 132KB) and Correction Notice (PDF, 129KB) to make corrections to the West Midlands Rail Freight Interchange Order 2020, following a request by the Applicant (PDF, 166KB).

21 October 2020

The Secretary of State has granted development consent for this application. For further information please refer to the following decision documentation:

Planning Inspectorate Notification of Decision Letter
Secretary of State Decision Letter
Development Consent Order as made by the Secretary of State
Examining Authority’s Recommendation Report
Post-Examination Submissions
Regulation 31 Notice

04 May 2020
Decision made by the Secretary of State
04 May 2020

A Statement has been laid in Parliament by the Secretary of State announcing a new deadline of 5 May 2020 for the decision.

29 April 2020

IMPORTANT: As a result of ongoing Government guidance relating to COVID-19 the Planning Inspectorate is seeking to ensure that all Parties are notified of key developments on projects, in a timely manner. In order to help achieve this, and to minimise any delays which could arise if the postal service is affected, it would be extremely helpful if registered Parties that have not already done so could supply us with a contact e-mail address as soon as possible (details in the contact information heading of the project page).

Please be assured that this information will be managed in line with our Privacy Notice.

25 March 2020

West Midlands Rail Freight Interchange Development Consent Order application remains with the Secretary of State for consideration.

28 February 2020

A letter issued by the Secretary of State for Transport dated 24 January 2020 along with a letter from the Applicant dated 13 December 2019 have now been published.

24 January 2020
Recommendations given by the Planning Inspectorate
27 November 2019

Further Written Questions have been published.

19 June 2019

Submissions for deadline 4 have been published.

17 June 2019

Deadline 3 Submissions have now been published.

26 April 2019

Submissions for Deadline 2 have been published.

10 April 2019

Read the letter

The Examination Timetable (Rule 8 letter) has been sent to Interested Parties

Procedural decision following Preliminary Meeting

04 March 2019
  • Preliminary Meeting takes place
  • Examination begins
27 February 2019

The notification of Preliminary Meeting (Rule 6 letter) has been sent Read the letter

The letter also includes the draft Examination Timetable and Initial Assessment of Principal Issues.

23 January 2019
Relevant representations published on the website
01 November 2018
Registration of interested parties closes
29 October 2018
Registration of interested parties begins
19 September 2018
Read the letter

The application has been accepted for examination

24 August 2018
Decision on whether or not to accept the application for examination
24 August 2018

The Application Documents have now been published.

14 August 2018

This application was received by the Planning Inspectorate on 3 August 2018.

The applicant has agreed that all application documents can be published as soon as practicable to help everyone become familiar with the detail of what is being proposed in this application. The Planning Inspectorate will therefore make the application documents available as soon as practicable.

This provision is solely for the purpose of allowing more time to all those who wish to become familiar with the detail of what is being proposed ahead of the relevant representation period without lengthening the overall time required for the application process. There will be no opportunity at this stage to make comments on the application. However, if the application is accepted anyone interested in the application will be able to register and express their views during the relevant representation stage and the subsequent examination.

03 August 2018
Application received by the Planning Inspectorate
03 August 2018