An Introduction to DIRFT

Site Location DIRFT South 2.1 DIRFT is located at the centre of 2.5 DIRFT South comprises of 1,07905 mainland Britain’s distribution and sq m (1,161,480 sq ft) of business manufacturing heartland. DIRFT and distribution floorspace bounded is within a few hundred metres of by the A248, Watling Street, the Junction 18 of the M1 Motorway and WCML and the A5. DIRFT South has adjoins the Northampton loop of the been completed and includes the West Coast Main Line (WCML). intermodal Railport, which opened 2.2 DIRFT enjoys excellent rail in 1997. DIRFT South also includes connectivity with its strategic three large directly rail linked location on the WCML and direct distribution buildings. link to the Channel Tunnel, domestic DIRFT Central destinations and deep sea ports. Rail 2.6 This 16 hectare (40 acre) site is freight transport confers significant located to the north of the A428 and time, cost and environmental benefits west of the A5 link road to the M1 and DIRFT is ideally located to exploit Junction 18. A scheme of 69,700 sq these advantages. m (750,000 sq ft) of industrial and 2.3 DIRFT enjoys excellent links to the distribution floorspace is currently hub of the UK’s strategic highways under construction and should be network. The M1/M6 junction is completed by the end of 2005. approximately 5 miles to the north. Excellent cross country east-west DIRFT East links exist via the A14 (A1/M1 link) 2.7 This 53 hectare (132 acre) site is and DIRFT is also well connected to bounded by the M1 motorway to the other main population centres via the east and the A5 / M1 link road to the A5 trunk road which passes directly west. Outline planning permission by DIRFT. was granted in 1993 for distribution 2.4 DIRFT comprises four sites on and warehousing development. adjoining land which are separated As at April 2005, completed by public highways. These are DIRFT development at DIRFT East comprised South, DIRFT Central, DIRFT East and approximately 130,000 sq.m. and the DIRFT Expansion Site. The sites only two small plots (totalling 8 are shown on Figure 1. hectares) remain to be developed at the time of preparing this Guide.

DIRFT Expansion 2.9 The DIRFT Expansion Site covers an 2.8 Outline permission was granted in area of 54 hectares (133 acres), January 2005 for the expansion located to the west of the existing of DIRFT to provide 180,741 sq m DIRFT facility. The A5, to the east, (1,945,500 sq ft) of warehouse, and the WCML to the south, contain distribution and manufacturing the site whilst the western boundary buildings, an extension to private rail is marked by the administrative sidings, construction and extension of boundary between Daventry District / bridges, highway realignment, parking Northamptonshire County and Rugby and landscaping. Borough / Warwickshire County. It is also the boundary between the East and West Midlands Regional Planning areas. The A428 bisects the site from its junction with the A5.

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g in O k r ffi a ce P s f f a a t e S Alan Johnson Associates e c Alan Johnson Associates r i v A r e U e S Chartered Architects & Development Consultants ic v m r a 5 U e e N 1170 Elliott Court Herald Avenue 3 r S g d in a A k r o a R Coventry Business Park Coventry CV5 6UB N m P e I f t 5 f a a t T t s 3 E U I S NI Tel: 024 7625 3200 Fax: 024 7625 3210 T 3 T 8 E-Mail: [email protected] s e g i c 3 2 in f k f 5 r m a P O S f S ta f e ff a r Pa t v rk S ic ing e A rea A 428 project O ffic es U N To Junction DIRFT IT 7 5 3m S erv ice 18 M1 Ar EXPANSION UN ea IT 1 client DIRFT South DIRFT LTD

drawing

Rail scale 1:3000 drawn MJL Terminal checked date 6/12/02

A5 2903 - 30

this drawing and design is the copyright of alan johnson associates and Figure 2: WIllustrativeest Coast Layout must not be reproduced in part or in whole without prior written consent. contractors must verify all dimensions on site before commencing work or preparing shop drawings ILLUSTRATIVE LAYOUT Main Line 2.10 An illustrative layout (Figure 2) that 2.11 The DIRFT Expansion Site is intended was submitted to the Council in to attract occupiers primarily seeking support of the planning application rail-connected plots, particularly demonstrates how the site might be within the distribution sector. developed. A rail connection to the Expansion Site would use the existing rail-port from which a rail line would be extended westerly parallel to the WCML. Works to the A5 adjacent to WCML bridge, will be required. In order to serve the area to the north of the A428 a new bridge will be required to carry the line over the A428 or to raise the A428 over the new rail line.