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Motorway services set for go-ahead after 20 years

Joe WillisLocal Democracy Reporting Service
News imageNorth Yorkshire Council An artist's impression of how the services at Kirkby Hill (x) could look - with a grassy area in front and a wooden screened services building with a green roof, and a car park. The motorway runs along the side.North Yorkshire Council
An artist's impression the proposed Vale of York motorway services at Kirby Hill

Controversial plans for a motorway services off the A1(M) in North Yorkshire appear set to be given the go-ahead next week.

North Yorkshire Council planning officers said the Vale of York services, near Boroughbridge, should be approved after more than 20 years of legal wrangles.

Many parish councils in the area have objected to the proposal for the Welcome Break site, saying plans go far beyond what was initially approved.

But planners have rejected that and said a new environmental impact assessment was unnecessary and the development was broadly consistent with existing permissions.

Outline plans granted in 2021 agreed space for 364 cars, 90 HGVs, 18 coaches, caravans and motorcycles, plus a drive-thru coffee shop and fuel stations.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the scheme now has a higher motorway bridge, larger embankments, expanded landscaping and additional drainage lagoons east of the A1(M).

The parish councils of Kirby Hill and Marton-le-Moor, Langthorpe, Skelton-cum-Newby, Roecliffe and Westwick, and Boroughbridge Town Council all objected saying the scheme had become "more visually intrusive" and said the changes were materially increasing the scale and impact of the development.

But the council's planning officers rejected claims about the ommission of green roofs and said although the bridge and eastern roundabout were higher than originally planned, the increase was necessary and remained within the approved height parameters.

News imageRoadchef/planning documents Proposed plans (artist impression) for a new services near the A1(M) at Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire, with several cars parked outside a building which has a green roof. Trees and hedges separate the cars. Roadchef/planning documents
The council rejected claims that green roofs had been removed from the plans and said wildflower roofs would be grown on the main building and fuel station, and sedum roofs on the drive-thru and HGV filling station

More than 70 members of the public also raised fears over increased traffic, noise, light pollution and landscape harm.

Objectors said a fresh planning application - supported by a new environmental impact assessment - should have been submitted and raised concerns about the safety of access to the B6265, the visual impact on nearby Kirby Hill, and the effect on groundwater as the site is above a principal aquifer.

News imageRoadchef/Planning Documents Artist's impression of the proposed motorway services at the A1 (M) at Boroughbridge in North YorkshireRoadchef/Planning Documents
Objectors queried whether the development was necessary given other motorway services since approved or expanded elsewhere on the motorway - such as Ferrybridge Services six miles away

Planning officers also said National Highways, North Yorkshire Council's highways authority and ecologist, the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water had not objected.

The application will be discussed on Tuesday.

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