A1 (M) motorway services plan moves forward

Plans for a new motorway service station on land adjacent to the A1(M) in North Yorkshire have taken a step forward after formal planning documents were submitted.The £50m development, led by Applegreen plc, will create a motorway service station adjacent to the A1(M), A168 and B6265 between Wetherby service area and Leeming Bar rest stop.Applegreen, which is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, has submitted a request for an Environmental Impact Assessment Screening for the land near Kirby Hill.The business intends to create about 300 full-time jobs for the development in addition to 200 short-term construction jobs during the building process.Applegreen has developed 12 motorway service areas and employs 3,000 staff across its entire offering.The plan for the 42-acre site between junctions 48 and 49 is to reduce the gap between Wetherby and Durham Services. The one motorway service area would serve both directions of travel from a single location with a new bridge and slipway to the development.The proposals for the station include plans for a fuel filling station for cars, vans and small commercial vehicles, separate fuel filling for HGVs and coaches as well as a drive thru coffee shop and a picnic and play area.The site has been at the centre of a controversy since the plan for a services was initially suggested in 1997 to break up the distance between Wetherby and Durham motorway service areas.Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services (Kirby Hill RAMS) has successfully opposed two previous development proposals to build a service station.Wilmslow-based planning consultancy, Axis, is helping Applegreen with the planning process.