HelioSlough - Industrial Development - St Albans, Frogmore

Date: 10 Apr 2006

HelioSlough has unveiled plans to build a new 3.5m sq ft (325,161 sq m) strategic rail freight interchange on the former Radlett Aerodrome site at Frogmore in St Albans, Hertfordshire, along with a 614-acre (249-hectare) country park, woodland and managed countryside area.

The proposed industrial, warehousing and distribution facility with mainline rail connection will comprise five units ranging from 480,000 sq ft to 1.2m sq ft (44,593 sq m to 111,484 sq m) to be built using sustainable and environmental construction practices. Each unit will have its own railway siding for goods to be delivered directly from the train and a container-handling interchange providing rail access to the deep sea container ports and mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel.

The development will have the capacity to handle 12 trains entering and exiting the site every day and will include 2,652 car parking spaces for employees and 617 lorry parking spaces.

Lorry access to the terminal will be via a new junction from the A414 - a strategic route with direct access to the M1, M25 and A1(M). A relief road for Park Street, St Albans, will also be created to divert the existing HGV routes and through traffic. It will extend from south of the M25, by a modified bridge over the motorway, to join the new junction from the A414.

Mike Hughes, director at HelioSlough, comments: "HelioSlough will set a new benchmark for this type of development in the UK, drawing on best practice from across Europe where such developments are an integral part of the daily transport infrastructure. The Department for Transport, Transport for London and the regional authorities have all given their support to an increase in rail freight capacity in the UK.

"Public policy is now seeking the development of four strategic rail freight interchanges around the M25. The Radlett proposal would provide the identified facility for the M25 north-west sector, filling a gap in current provision. With pressures such as the Working Time Directive, rising fuel prices and a chronic shortage of lorry drivers, it is crucial that this gap is filled."

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