1. A Strategic Rail Freight Interchange for the North East?
Forrest Park
A Strategic Rail Freight Interchange for the North East?
Peter Ollivere – Durham County Council

2. Content of Presentation
Policy
Objectives of Forrest Park
Newton Aycliffe Momentum
Locational
Delivery and Funding
New Infrastructure
Next Steps

3. Policy (1)
National Planning Statement (2015) - New facilities need to be located alongside the major rail routes, close to major trunk roads and conurbations.
TfN - Logistics and Freight Report (2016) - Delivering growth in strategically located rail and water connected freight interchanges in the North of England – provide at least 50 hectares per annum
County Durham Plan (Preferred Options 2016) – Likely to promote the development of a new SRFI at Forrest Park.
Very up to date evidence
CDP citing growing ports in the NE and the growth of inter-modal traffic as key drivers.

4. Policy (2) Stakeholders Championing A1 Corridor:
Demand is recognised to be stronger in the A1 Corridor than the A19 (demand linked to recent investments by Hitachi and at NETPark)
Appeal to industrial occupiers reflects the area’s location in the centre of the North East region with access via the strategic road network to Tyneside and Teesside.
Consultees have indicated that this leaves the area well placed to benefit from the expected growth in the regional distribution sector;

5. Objectives of Forrest Park
Stimulate Economic Growth in line with Strategic Economic Plan by:
Attracting private sector investment;
Facilitating skilled jobs;
Consolidating North East as manufacturing hub;
Provide regional opportunities to improve business routes to market;
Objectives in SEP and County Durham Plan.

6. Location in North East
The business park lies on the southern periphery of the ‘just in time’ zone for supply to Nissan in Sunderland. It is also well placed for specialist suppliers supporting process and off-shore industries in Tees Valley.
3.5km south of NA town centre.
Durham City (15kms) and Tyne and Wear (40kms) to the north.
Darlington is 7km to the south and the Teesside conurbation 20km to the east.
On A167 and 1 minute drive from J59 of A1(M)

7. Site Location – Forrest Park
Extension of Existing Business Park with over 250 business focusing on primarily on manufacturing and engineering
Gestamp Tallent Automotive, Husqvarna, Ebac, Permoid, Lucite, Lidl and Stiller are located within the business park. Recently, Hitachi Rail Europe has relocated its train manufacturing facility to Merchant Park, as shown in Figure 2

8. Aycliffe Momentum – (Emp)
Hitachi have invested £82million in the development of a manufacturing plant, r&d facilities and test track at Newton Aycliffe
Unlike Nissan, will not require tier one suppliers to locate in close proximity.
A new plant at Gestamp to advance their car manufacturing business which already employs 1,400 staff
UTC - next generation of engineers, technicians and managers…

9. Hitachi arrival…..

10. NA Momentum..(Transport)
Increased Public Transport Offer
Capacity at J59 for increased freight deliveries- A167 and A66
Capacity on Tees Valley Line for more trains and gauge clearance for freight
Direct Rail Connection to ECML and all East coast Ports
New Walking and Cycle Links
Darlington By-pass?

11. Local Transport Investment
Note cyclist – not using the shared path

12. Delivery and Funding
So what's DCC/NECA doing to support SRFI interchange at Forrest?
£13m already being spent on enabling infrastructure
Joint venture - DCC and Forrest Family
Feasibility Study – Inter-modality

13. New Access and Link Road
Access and internal road due for completion Sep17
Earthworks done by end of 16
New signalised junction better than L in, L out current arrangement

14. Utilities
-Electricity (New 23 MW sub. Station) -Gas -Fowl
installation of a bespoke 23MW power supply into the site, and a newly constructed power substation
Power Supply due for completion Sep 17 substation switched on
Gas and Foul supply
New pipe all the way from Darlington N.

15. 2011 evidence on same site Concluded:
Good rail and road connection, a lack of competition in the area;
Inter-modal traffic is forecasted to grow;
Alternative sites dismissed;
A complete absence of quality accommodation in NE;
Very confident that site would have a positive impact on property market.
Feasibility Report for Forrest Park (then Newton Park) – Prepared by Cushman and Wakefield (2011)

16. Challenges Topography of site; Proving Occupier Interest (new study);
Rail spur into site and other freight handling issues;
Securing additional funding in context of devolution uncertainty (if required)

17. Next Steps…. With a lot of work already done…
Consultants briefing to Identify Occupier Interest for rail freight in - Jan 17
Enabling Infrastructure in line with final masterplan for SRFI - Sep 17
Need to build on recent Aycliffe Business Park momentum and attract Investors
And……

18. The first SRFI in region.
What it could like, very indicative at this satge

19. Many Thanks -
Phone