Conclusion

We have sought in this proposal to achieve the fine balance required between fulfilling a need on the motorway network, creating minimum landscape impact and offering substantial local benefit.

This has been endorsed by the South West Design Review Panel:

'It is unusual for the Panel to give support so emphatically  (we do support schemes, although usually with more reservations). We support this scheme confident that its major benefits far outweight the minor intrusion it would make.  It would set a new standard for service areas and probably win national recognition as a model. Through its contribution to regeneration in surrounding areas, investment  in local businesses and showcase for local products, it promises to be a scheme that Stroud and Gloucestershire will take pride in.'

Community Consultation

Prior to submission of the planning application, Westmorland Limited and Gloucestershire Gateway Trust undertook pre-application community consultation to enable members of the local community to view the proposals, comment on these, and ask questions of the development team before submission of the application. The consultation activities undertaken included stakeholder presentations, 2 public exhibitions, the creation of this dedicated website, email address and an information leaflet. The information leaflet and literature displayed at the exhibition is available download at the bottom of this page.

Following the Public Consultation, the Project Team took the opportunity to revise the scheme in order to address the comments made during the consultation. These revisions are outlined below by subject and form part of the submitted application:

Development Layout/ Landscape

 In order to satisfy concerns in respect of landscape harm and improving the aesthetic appearance of the MSA, the Masterplan has been revised in the following ways:

•  The northbound facilities building has been rotated to the south west so that only the soft edges of the facilities building are visible from the elevated views;

• The car parking on the northbound site has been pushed further south to minimise hard standing on the higher parts of the site;

•  The southbound facilities building and car parking has been rotated to the north east to provide improved visual screening from the elevated views;

• The car parking on both sites now curved round the building as opposed to being in straight lines, which provides a visual improvement;

• The proposed green infrastructure and woodland planting has been enhanced thereby improving the setting of the development; and

• A lighting expert has introduced a lighting scheme that seeks to minimise light spill, which will reduce visibility of the MSA at night.

Transportation/ Highways

In respect of traffic impact, prior to the exhibition it was agreed that the majority of service vehicles will access the site via the motorway. Only small delivery vehicles can access the site via the local road network on to the southbound site. Access via the local road network will be controlled by a barrier which can be controlled by a pin code. Deliveries will be transported from the southbound to the northbound site through the subway that exists to the south of the site. It is proposed that this strategy is maintained.

Other Environmental Concerns

The Environmental Statement that supports the planning application considers the impacts on the surrounding environment. It demonstrates that in respect of all the disciplines assessed, there are few significant adverse effects. All adverse effects noted have been mitigated in order to avoid, reduce or remedy the significant adverse impact.

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.  

Contact us

Should you wish to discuss the proposal with a member of the Project Team,

• Call 0121 308 9570
• Email gloucestershiregateway@ppg-llp.co.uk
• Or send comments to:
  GG MSA Consultation Response
  Pegasus Planning Group
  5 The Priory
  Old London Road
  Canwell
  Sutton Coldfield
  West Midlands
  B75 5SH