Fresh plans for a service station along the M25 near Chalfont St Peter have been revealed after previous controversial proposals were rejected – but this time it would be on the other side of the motorway.

Extra Motorway Services – who run the popular Beaconsfield Services at junction 2 of the M40 – put forward their plans for a new services on the west side of the M25, between junction 16 and 17, at Warren Farm, near Chalfont St Peter, back in July 2019.

But last year, they complained that Buckinghamshire Council was taking too long to make a decision, and they submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

The Planning Inspectorate was not convinced by their arguments, however, saying the planned services – which included a 100-bed hotel – would be harmful to the Green Belt and rejected them.

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After that major blow, Extra says they have “considered the issues” the Planning Inspectorate raised and has tried to address them – and now they want to build their planned new service station on the east side of the M25 instead.

They say they have identified a site of just under 40 hectares that they think would be a suitable alternative that isn’t too far away.

What is being proposed?

Extra wants to build a facilities building, fuel filling station, electric vehicle charging station and parking for HGVs, cars and coaches - costing an estimated £90 million to build over the course of two years.

While a hotel was explicitly mentioned as part of the facilities building in their first lot of plans, there doesn’t seem to be any mention of one in these new proposals.

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There will also be access to the service station from the M25 only via a bridge over the motorway and a new roundabout that will serve both carriageways.

Extra say the new service station will provide 310 full-time equivalent jobs on site, with 62 at a senior level, and 632 during the building phase.

How do these proposals differ from the plans submitted before?

Extra say they have tried to address some concerns that were raised by the Planning Inspectorate during last year’s public inquiry.

Aside from moving the whole site to the other side of the M25, they say they have tried to make sure the layout of the buildings will be “low in the landscape” and they will provide “substantial” landscaping which “responds to the local landscape context, including the character and views associated with the Colne Valley”.

They also say there has been a “significant reduction of the scale of the development” that will “further minimise Green Belt impacts”.

What happens next?

Extra has been busy sending out new leaflets to people living nearby detailing their new plans, but you can also read this and other details on their website.

As part of a consultation, they are asking people to get in touch with their views on the new plans and you can do this up until Monday, March 21, 2022.

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Extra say they will “read and consider” all responses and use them to shape their plans before submitting a new planning application to Buckinghamshire Council.

They say there is a “significant public safety need” for another M25 service station as there is currently a 44-mile gap between existing facilities at Cobham and South Mimms - Highways England's recommended safe limit is 28 miles or a 30-minute drive.

How to view the plans and have your say

Go online to the dedicated website, www.chilternchalfontservices.co.uk, for all the latest details.

You can submit your comments on the ‘contact us’ page at www.chilternchalfontservices.co.uk/contact-us.