There is a large and growing SRFI a few miles down the A5 at DIRFT. Another is being mooted by dbSymmetry a few miles north of Magna Park, alongside the Leicester-Nuneaton railway line (part of the line beween Felixstowe Docks and the West Coast Main Line. East Midlands Gateway is another SRFI currently under construction in the region. Non-rail linked strategic distribution centres are cheaper to build and if lower costs are passed on to client companies, this risks undermining the viability of rail-linked interchanges.

This plan does not accord with the emphasis contained in the National Policy Statement for National Networks (NPS), issued after the NPPF, which contains strong support for SRFIs, viz: "The Government .... believes it is important to facilitate the development of the intermodal rail freight industry. The transfer of freight from road to rail has an important part to play in a low carbon economy and in helping to address climate change." (Paragaph 2.53)

In this respect, too, the draft plan fails to meet the test of soundness. It is inconsistent with achieving sustainable development, it is not the most appropriate strategy, when considered against the reasonable alternatives, it fails in this respect, too, to demonstrate that it is based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic priorities and is inconsistent with national policies