Client: Prologis The Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) is the UK's leading logistics hub, strategically located near the M1 motorway and the West Coast Mainline. Developed by Prologis, this multimodal terminal spans over 1,500 acres and features a direct rail connection, enabling the efficient movement of goods by both road and rail. The DIRFT III extension, completed in 2023, added 7.5 million square feet of warehouse space, significantly enhancing the site’s capacity. Key developments include Royal Mail's Midlands Super Hub, capable of processing 235 million parcels annually, and numerous warehouses achieving BREEAM 'Excellent' ratings. Services we provided Transport Planning & Traffic Engineering Civil & Infrastructure Engineering Ecology & Heritage Geotechnical & Ground Engineering Ground Investigation & Land Quality Water Engineering & Flood Risk Our Role BWB played a crucial role in supporting the development of the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal's infrastructure. Our expertise contributed to the design and improvement of M1 Junction 18, ensuring smoother, safer traffic flow in and out of the terminal. Stakeholder management Given the scale of the infrastructure improvements at M1 Junction 18, coordinating with multiple stakeholders to obtain technical approvals was essential. The expansion has created thousands of jobs in logistics, retail, and infrastructure. Highways design BWB provided comprehensive highway design services, including drainage design for the new road layout. In addition, we delivered traffic modelling to ensure the designs met anticipated capacity demands and addressed long-term sustainability. We also developed the street lighting and traffic signals designs for the junction and roundabout to ensure safe and efficient vehicle movements. Ground expertise Our geotechnical and ground investigation services were pivotal in supporting the highway and junction improvements. Additionally, BWB prepared ecological reports to ensure the expansion complied with environmental regulations and supported biodiversity.