Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will outline his Department's process for granting a Development Consent Order for a strategic rail freight interchange.

An application for development consent for a strategic rail freight interchange in England will first be made to The Planning Inspectorate. When the Examining Authority appointed to examine the application has completed its examination, it will send a report containing its conclusions and recommendation to the Secretary of State. Once the report is received, a decision has to be made within three months unless the Secretary of State agrees to extend the deadline. The report will be considered by officials in the Department’s Transport Infrastructure Planning Unit. They will submit advice to the Minister who has been delegated to make decisions on applications for consent for rail freight infrastructure. The Minister will then consider whether or not consent should be granted taking into account the relevant planning matters. If consent is granted, a decision letter, containing the reasons for the decision, a Habitats Regulations Assessment (if required) and a Development Consent Order will be issued.