UK-In a generally brighter climate various freight and shipping interests around the country have made acquisitions or announced plans to invest in the past week or so. News comes of major multimodal associated works with the development of eight million square feet of rail linked distribution space in Rugby . The site, an extension of Daventry Rail Freight Terminal, DIRFT lll, is expected to fetch thousands of jobs to the region and has been welcomed by trade bodies such as the Rail Freight Group  with Executive Director, Maggie Simpson, commenting:

"We are delighted with this decision to expand the already successful rail interchange at Daventry. This will help more companies make use of efficient, and environmentally friendly rail freight services within their supply chains."

The Planning Inspectorates decision can be seen, and Prologis expects to start preparing the site before the end of 2014 with the first phase ready for occupation by the tail end of 2016. The site is jointly owned by BT and Aviva Investors which, acting together with Prologis, have promoted the project through the planning process to the granting of the Development Consent Order (DCO) from Local Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. Andrew Griffiths, Managing Director of Prologis UK, observed:

"Logistics plays a vital role in the UK economy, underpinning the success of many other sectors from retail and e-commerce to manufacturing. Since it is both more cost-effective and more carbon-efficient to transport freight by rail rather than by road, DIRFT provides the facilities necessary to service and support growth across the economy."

Together with the 'sustainable urban extension' to Rugby, which will include up to 6,200 new houses with supporting infrastructure and facilities, DIRFT III will regenerate the former BT Rugby Radio Station site over a 20-year period prompting Neil McLeod of Aviva Investors to add:

"With planning permission granted for the sustainable urban extension earlier this year and now this DCO permission for the expansion of DIRFT, the regeneration and economic potential of the radio station site is being unlocked."

Meanwhile 200 miles further north a warehouse and distribution firm with an interest in rail freight has secured funding for a 10 acre extension to its existing 42 acre North Yorkshire Melmerby Industrial Estate, The 180,000+ square foot extension lies a mile from the M1/A1 motorway junction 50 and has consent for various buildings up to 130,000 square feet. £900,000 funding from the York, North Yorkshire and East Ridings Local Enterprise Partnership is to be used to level existing structures, construct site access roads and upgrade power and utility supplies.