In North West England, plans to develop a major new Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) between Manchester and Liverpool have taken a further step forward. A second round of public consultation has been launched on the proposed Intermodal Logistics Park North (ILPN).
The development proposal is near Newton-le-Willows, midway between Manchester and Liverpool, about 25 miles (40km) from each city centre. The project is being promoted by Intermodal Logistics Park North Ltd, a company formed by Tritax Big Box REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust). The site, adjacent to the West Coast Main Line, has been identified as a potential replacement for Freightliner’s Trafford Park terminal in Manchester, which faces both capacity constraints and growing uncertainty over the future of its land.
Strategic location
The ILPN site, previously known as Parkside East, would serve both Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region Freeport, with strong rail and road links. Located less than 25 miles (40km) from both city centres, it benefits from direct access to the West Coast Main Line and the TransPennine corridor, offering dual north–south and east–west connectivity.
Industry sources suggest the new terminal could eventually handle operations relocated from Trafford Park, where Freightliner currently runs up to 20 intermodal services a day. The existing site, which lies close to Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, is being considered for redevelopment as part of a major expansion proposal linked to the club’s future stadium plans.
Congestion relief and capacity growth
If realised, the ILPN scheme could deliver significant operational benefits across the region’s rail network. The development would relieve pressure on central Manchester’s Castlefield Corridor, one of the busiest, most congested and most contentious freight and passenger routes in the UK.
Freightliner has previously expressed interest in establishing a presence at the new site, formerly known as Parkside East. A move could enable further growth of intermodal services from the North West, particularly given the proximity to Liverpool’s shipping container terminals and the Freeport logistics zone.
Nationally significant infrastructure
The proposed SRFI is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), meaning consent will ultimately rest with the Secretary of State for Transport. “These proposals include an allocated site and will be instrumental in connecting the North West to global markets,” said Andrew Dickman, Chairman at Tritax Big Box Developments. “As part of Liverpool City Region’s Freeport, this development can unlock significant investment and create thousands of jobs, while delivering both economic and environmental freight solutions for the region. We are committed to working with our partners and the local community to ensure these benefits are fully realised.”
The developer says feedback from an initial informal consultation earlier this year has helped refine the current proposals, which now include a large-scale intermodal terminal, logistics accommodation, and warehousing. The second round of consultation opened on Tuesday 28 October and runs until Tuesday 23 December 2025. Local residents, businesses, and stakeholders are invited to review and comment on the updated plans, with a series of public information events scheduled across the Newton-le-Willows area in the coming weeks.
