A decision on whether to approve controversial plans for a motorway service station has been delayed again after the applicants submitted revised plans.
Moto’s proposal to build a service station on green belt land just off the M25 near Kings Langley requires another round of consultation after new plans affecting the flow of traffic were published.
Moto’s scheme to construct an 80-bed hotel, takeaway restaurants and shops, a drive-thru coffee unit, petrol station, and lorry park at junction 20 is the most objected scheme in Three Rivers District Council’s history, with more than 1,400 objections.
Marked in red is roughly the land where the service station would sit
Amongst those raising concerns about the 2019 plans were Highways England and Hertfordshire County Council, and the effect a service station will have on traffic on the A41 and at the M25 junction 20 roundabout.
Moto has carried out a number of surveys which show the M25 roundabout would be running above capacity if a service station is built, and therefore is likely to cause more traffic congestion at an already busy junction.
Extra lanes are proposed on the approaches into this roundabout
The applicants have submitted new proposals which would see the M25 and A41 approaches into the roundabout widened, to create one additional lane on each approach, with scope also for additional space on the roundabout itself.
A new roundabout on the A41 between the M25 and Langleybury Lane, providing access to the motorway service station remains as part of the original proposal.
The new roundabout which would be built on the A41 is circled
Members of the public can make comments on the amendments, but there is no need to resubmit any previous comments.
The planning committee at Three Rivers District Council will make a final decision on the outline planning application at a future date.
CGI of the proposed Moto service station by junction 20
Moto says there is a need for a new service station on the western side of the M25 but there are two schemes rivalling Moto’s in Kings Langley.
Extra has submitted plans to build a motorway service station on a site off the M25 between junctions 16 and 17 in Buckinghamshire, while Welcome Break wants to build a motorway service station with a hotel on land owned by Buckinghamshire Council between the M40 and the M4.
Only one of the three schemes is likely to go forward.
Moto's planning application can be found here.
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