Vision: Location of Freight Terminal

The vision for this project is to provide a rail road interchange for bulk transport of containers. There is also scope for integrated rail, road, air transport.

Conditions within the approved planning application require the provision of a rail bulk head on the Exeter to Waterloo railway line before the completion of phase one of the development.

The buildings are likely to comprise of warehousing suitable for handling the storage of containers and the take up of floor space is likely to be for transport logistic centres or single use distribution centres.  For example food retailing.

Location:

  • The Intermodal Freight Facility and Distribution Centre is to be located on land at Hayes Farm, Clyst Honiton
  • It is close to junction 29 of the M5
  • Near Exeter International Airport
  • Adjacent to the Exeter to Waterloo railway line

Size of Site (in ha):

  • 65 Hectares

Phase One: 

  • 65,757 Sq meters
  • Within the first phase, a distribution warehouse has been proposed and a planning application has been submitted by Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd  

 Predicted investment value:           

  • £45-50 million

Job creation:        

  • Potential to create around 700 jobs

 Current land owners:

  • The Church Commissioners for England

Availability: 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background

In July 2000 the Church Commissioners for England submitted an outline planning application to East Devon District Council "Exeter Gateway, an intermodal facility for the transfer of freight and a freight distribution centre".

The Intermodal Rail Freight Facility and Distribution Centre (known as Exeter Gateway) was granted outline planning permission on 21 December 2007. 

In September 2011 an amended application (Application No: 10/2184/MOUT) was approved by East Devon District Council Council members.

The amended application enables the first phase of the development to begin without the railhead, but ensures through Section 106 agreement that the railhead, railway works and licences must be completed before 50,000 sq.m. are occupied.

Click here to view amended application
(Application No: 10/2184/MOUT)

Infrastructure

As part of the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point, the site benefits from the surrounding infrastructure improvements works which are taking place.  These include improvements to Junction 29 of the M5 and the construction of the Clyst Honiton bypass.

The construction of the Clyst Honiton bypass will provide access to and from the site avoiding the use of local roads.

Phase One

In September 2011 Sainsbury's Supermarkets Limited submitted a 49,119 sq.m. Reserved Matters application for the erection of a distribution warehouse (use class B8) to occupy a large portion of phase one.

The application consists of the details of a distribution warehouse (the principal of which having already been approved - Application No: 10/2184/MOUT) together with associated ancillary offices and means of access, gatehouse, energy centre, resource recycling unit, vehicle maintenance unit, fuel island, sprinkler tanks, pump house, vehicle wash, car, motorcycle, cycle and HGV parking, landscaping earthworks, associated infrastructure works and provision of replacement bat roost.

This facility offers the potential to create around 450 jobs.

Click here to view the Sainsbury's planning application
(Application No: 11/2118/MRES)