Mountpark’s Development Consent Order (DCO) application for OxSRFI, a proposed Strategic Rail Freight Interchange near Junction 10 of the M40 in Oxfordshire, has been accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate.
The acceptance marks a major milestone for the project and reflects years of technical, environmental and strategic planning work to bring forward a £1.5 billion nationally significant infrastructure scheme designed to support the UK’s logistics sector, which enables a shift from road to rail, and deliver long‑term regional benefits.
Addressing a strategic gap in rail‑served logistics
OxSRFI has been developed to respond to a well‑established shortage of rail‑connected logistics capacity along the M40 corridor. Its location enables it to support supply chains across Oxfordshire, London and the South East, the Midlands and the wider OxCam Corridor, reducing the need for long‑distance HGV movements and supporting more resilient, sustainable freight networks.
Once operational, OxSRFI would provide:
By enabling more freight to move by rail, the scheme is designed to help reduce congestion, carbon emissions and pressure on the strategic road network.
A landscape‑led and infrastructure‑first approach
From its earliest stages, OxSRFI has been shaped by a landscape‑led masterplanning strategy, ensuring that environmental considerations are embedded alongside operational and infrastructure requirements.
Approximately 60% of the site is dedicated to green and blue infrastructure, including woodland creation, biodiversity enhancement, sustainable drainage and long‑term habitat management. The scheme also incorporates commitments to:
Significant investment in supporting infrastructure forms a central part of the proposals, including:
Key milestones and planning timeline
A clear, structured planning process has underpinned the development of OxSRFI, reflecting the scale and complexity of a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.
2018: Initial work on the OxSRFI proposals commenced
May–July 2022: Non‑statutory public consultation
September–November 2025: Statutory consultation informing the final DCO submission
2026: Examination by the Planning Inspectorate
Mid‑2027 (anticipated): Decision by the Secretary of State for Transport
This phased approach has enabled detailed technical design, environmental assessment and stakeholder engagement to be progressed in parallel.
Delivering long‑term economic value
Independent analysis indicates that OxSRFI could deliver substantial economic benefits, including:
During the anticipated seven‑year construction period, the development is expected to support an average of around 790 jobs per year, contributing to skills, employment and supply chain opportunities across the region.
Planning and strategic land expertise at the core
The acceptance of the OxSRFI application reflects Mountpark’s wider planning and strategic land capability, built through extensive experience in navigating complex policy, environmental and infrastructure frameworks.
Mountpark’s in‑house teams bring together expertise in NSIP‑scale consenting, strategic land promotion, infrastructure delivery and responsible development. This integrated approach allows Mountpark to unlock technically challenging sites and deliver long‑term, sustainable outcomes that align national infrastructure needs with local priorities.
OxSRFI is one example of Mountpark’s broader portfolio of logistics and infrastructure‑led developments across the UK and Europe, where complex site constraints, environmental considerations and multi‑agency coordination are central to project delivery.
What’s next for OxSRFI
Following acceptance, OxSRFI will now move into the formal examination phase during 2026, with continued engagement with statutory bodies, stakeholders and local communities. A recommendation will then be made to the Secretary of State for Transport ahead of an anticipated decision in mid‑2027.
Explore Mountpark’s wider portfolio
OxSRFI forms part of a wider portfolio of logistics and strategic land projects being brought forward by Mountpark across Europe, offering a range of speculative and build‑to‑suit opportunities at different stages of the planning lifecycle.
To explore how Mountpark is delivering infrastructure‑led, sustainable development across key logistics locations, or to discuss potential occupier and investment opportunities, view our live portfolio here.
