Highland firm West Fraser rail plans recommended for approval
Plans for a new rail sidings yard to serve a major manufacturing firm are currently on track.
Members of Highland Council’s south planning applications committee are being recommended to approve plans lodged by wood panel manufacturer West Faser Europe Ltd, formerly Norbord, off the A96 between Inverness and Nairn.
The plans envisage construction of a rail sidings yard including a connection to the main rail line along with associated works including areas of hard standing, an access road, vehicle parking, fencing, drainage and landscaping.
The firm has previously stated that the move would contribute to significantly reducing carbon emissions by a switch from road to rail for transport, and is seen as an “essential” development for the long-term sustainability of the business.
The sidings would be located around 560m to the south of the existing Aberdeen–Inverness rail line, with a connection to the main line to the west of the sidings and the use of a gantry crane (and/or reach stacker) to carry out the loading and unloading of containers.
Council planners state in a reporter prepared for the committee meeting: “An area of woodland measuring 2.36 hectares will require to be felled, with replacement planting on a like-for like basis within the application site boundary to compensate for this.
“In addition, proposals now also include measures to manage an 8ha area of conifer woodland adjacent to the site to create conditions conducive to the development of an ancient woodland.”
They add: “The applicant’s supporting Planning Statement indicates that the development will greatly contribute to the creation of a sustainable operational future for the West Fraser site. It is anticipated that approximately 20,000 HGV movements will be removed from the road network in favour of transportation by rail and that CO2 emission reductions are predicted to be in the region of 9000 tonnes.”
The south planning applicatons committee is due to meet on Wednesday, June 18.
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