East Midlands Airport rail project to bypass local planning officers

A scheme to build a rail freight interchange on farmland close to East Midlands Airport will not have to follow normal planning procedures, it has been revealed.

The project is regarded as an infrastructure project of national significance, so has been taken out of the hands of local planning councillors.

Instead, following two years of consultation, government ministers will decide.

Some local residents and councillors fear their concerns will be ignored.