Background

The need for a Motorway Service Area

 

The Highways Agency is an Exective Agency of the Department for Transport (DfT) and is responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the motorway network in England on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport.  As such the Agency has a responsibility in all MSA planning applications for determining the need for that MSA in accordance with DfT policy.  If need is established, the Agency then determines whether the planning application addresses all other DfT policy issues relating to the provision of roadside facilities.  Finally, but as importantly, it then determines whether the proposals meet all its current technical highway standards required to maintain a safe and efficient operation of the motorway network.

Following extensive discussions between the applicant and the Higways Agency, the Agency has now clarified its position in relation to teh Gloucestershire Gateway MSA application.  In summary, it acknowledges formally that:

• the MSA proposals fill a core gap in the motorway network around Gloucestershire. DfT policy currently seeks a core network of MSA's at no more than 28 miles apart (or 30 minutes travel time, whichever is the lesser).  Gloucestershire Gateway sits within a gap of 53.5 miles from the M50 at Ross on Wye to Michaelwood Services on the M5.  In addition, there is a gap approximately 33 miles between Strensham and Michaelwood Services, the existing MSAs either side of Gloucestershire Gateway.

• all issues relating to DfT MSA policies as well as road safety and operational matters have now been satisfactorily resolved.  Accordingly, subject to conditions which the Highways Agency directs must be attached to the grant of any planning permission, it has no objections to the Gloucestershire Gateway proposals.

In addition to this, a full assesment has been undertaken by the applicant of possible alternative sites within the core gap reffered to above.  The search for suitable sites has been prescribed by curent DfT policies and standards that require a minimum separation between MSA sites of 12 miles (19km) as well as weaving separation between new MSAs and exisiting motorway junctions of 2km.  In addition under the latest policy guidance there is a presumption in favour of new MSAs being located on-line to the motorway.
When all these factors are taken into consideration, there remains only a 3.34 miles corridor along the M5 at Gloucester in which a number of possible locations could be considered.  The Gloucestershire Gateway site falls within that corridor, and from a detailed comparitive assesment of environmental and land use issues has been identified as the most appropriate location for an MSA.

Click on the downloadable document to view the distances between the MSAs

The planning application for Gloucestershire Gateway Services was submitted on Friday 18 December 2009 to Stroud District Council. Details of the submitted application can be found by clicking the following link which takes you to the Local Planning Authority's website.