The area between Nottingham, Derby and Leicester is predominantly a rural one. But in recent decades it has become an increasingly significant commercial location. With some key upcoming projects likely to elevate the commercial importance of the area even further we will look at what is happening, and what is planned, here.

Despite its rural origins, this area is a particularly well connected one. It has an international airport, good road connections to the M1, A50 and A42 and connections to the rail freight network. This, together with the fact that it is strategically located in the centre of England, might explain its attraction as a development location.

East Midlands Airport has its origins as a holiday airport but in recent years it has become the UK’s most important airport for dedicated cargo flights and has further capacity for growth. It handles 4.2m passengers and 300,000 tonnes of freight annually. DHL Express and UPS have invested heavily here in recent years.

The surrounding area has been seeing logistics development for some time now. SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway (SLPEMG) has already delivered over 4.5m sq ft of space. Occupants include Amazon, DHL and Very.

Rail freight connections to the area are also good, creating a strong intermodal and lower carbon transport offer. Adjacent to the site is the 50-acre Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) operated by Maritime. The site has connections to major UK ports, freight interchanges and the Channel Tunnel, capacity for up to 16 freight trains per day plus container storage and HGV parking.

As for passenger rail, the planned arrival of HS2 to an East Midlands Hub at Toton near Nottingham with an ongoing connection to Sheffield and Leeds has helped attract attention to the development potential of the area. While that plan has now been cancelled, an HS2 connection to the existing East Midlands Parkway station is now proposed.

East Midlands Intermodal Park (EMIP) is a planned Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) that could be very significant for the area. The site is located next to the A38/A50 Burnaston Interchange and Toyota plant south of Derby and has been included within the East Midlands Freeport area. The development of a rail freight facility and intermodal park here is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project that is still subject to a detailed planning process.