Extra firms up Warrington M62 service station plan

Proposals that include a 100-bedroom hotel have been fleshed out and put to the local council almost five years after the idea for the scheme first emerged.

Extra MSA Group has tabled reserved matters plans for a service station on 38 acres of Green Belt land at Junction 11 of the M62 near Warrington.

Working with architect Corstorphine & Wright, Extra MSA has fleshed out the design of the facilities building, hotel, and associated landscaping and car parking. The fuel filling station will be the subject of a separate reserved matters application.

The latest plans, which indicate the scheme is progressing towards a start on site, come two years after Extra MSA was victorious at appeal.

Warrington Council had rejected the service station plan against officer recommendation in June 2021. The council then changed its mind the following February, opting to endorse the conclusion of its own planning officers that the benefits of the project did, in fact, outweigh the harm caused to the Green Belt.

The refusal was subsequently overturned by the planning inspectorate.

As well as the hotel, the scheme will feature a 44,000 sq ft facilities building containing restaurants, toilets, and shops, as well as areas for car, coach, and HGV parking.

The proposed services will be Extra’s second site in the North West, after Blackburn with Darwen services on the M65.

Extra is estimating the scheme could create up to 300 construction jobs, along with between 200 and 250 full-time equivalent permanent jobs once the site is operational. It is also expected to generate around £1.2m per year in business rates.

Extra has also previously argued the proposals would improve road safety by meeting a gap in service provision along the motorway; under Government guidelines, service areas are required to be less than 30 minutes’ drive, and no more than 28 miles apart.

Spawforths is advising on planning.