The Phase 1 plans for Mossend International Railfreight Park (MIRP) have been unanimously approved by North Lanarkshire Council’s Planning Committee.

Pictured are (l-r): Andrew Stirling, Director, PD Stirling; Lee Wayper, Project Manager, Sir Robert McAlpine; David Cross, Consultant for PD Stirling; David Stirling, Director, PD Stirling; Andy Logan, Managing Partner, Robb Ferguson; Cllr Allan Graham, North Lanarkshire Council; Andy Hall, Head of Corporate Banking in Central Scotland, Barclays; Allan Conroy, Enterprise Development Manager, North Lanarkshire Council

MIRP represents a major new low carbon, multi-modal rail freight facility located in the heart of Scotland. It will provide 2.2 million sq ft of logistics space and Scotland’s first 775-metre electric rail terminal, accommodating 16 trains per day as part of a 24/7 operation.

The Phase 1 application covers the detailed proposals and layout of the Railfreight Terminal including cross docking transit building, secondary buildings plus electric automated overhead gantry cranes (RMG) and associated infrastructure.

The planning and design team worked closely with the Council’s planning service to ensure that plans addressed issues of local amenity and support new investment that will help to deliver quality jobs and inclusive employment opportunities.

The new MIRP Railfreight Terminal constitutes Scotland’s newest Strategic Railfreight Interchange. The development comprises the new Railfreight Terminal and Railfreight Park plus a new A8 road access. The new link road will link the Terminal to the A8 ensuring all traffic is taken off the local Bellshill road network to the benefit of local residents.

David Stirling, Director of Mossend International Railfreight Park operator Peter D Stirling Ltd, said: “The MIRP Phase 1 planning approval is a major milestone in advancing the Mossend International Railfreight Park and providing a modern multi-modal logistics solution for businesses based locally as well as across the UK and Europe. The development as a whole involves £260 million of investment over a number of phases and provides some 200,000 sq m of low carbon, distribution, logistics and manufacturing space.”