Civils contractors have welcomed the news that development consent has been given for the development of a new Strategic Rail Freight Interchange near Junction 12 of the M6 motorway in South Staffordshire.

The scheme is the 84th nationally significant infrastructure project to have been examined and decided within the timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008.

Dawn Karakatsanis, CECA midlands director, said: “The green light for this scheme is good news for the logistics economy in the midlands.

“When built, it will be linked directly to the West Coast Main Line, one of the UK’s most important rail freight routes, and will enable the transport of goods both to and from the west midlands more efficiently.

“By boosting freight capacity it will ease congestion on the nation’s roads, as well as producing significantly less carbon emissions through reducing the use of heavy goods vehicles.

“Now that the development consent has been given go ahead, we hope that works on this scheme can move forward quickly to market without delay.”