Service areas on England’s motorways and major A roads could become more prolific and commercially driven under proposals put forward by the Roads Minister Stephen Hammond.

A six week consultation has begun which could lead to the removal of minimum spacing restrictions for service areas. At present the minimum acceptable distance between service areas on the same route is 19km.

In a statement the Highways Agency said that such a move would “create greater competition and customer choice”.

The consultation also proposes to remove restrictions on retail space within a service area, leaving it up to local planners to decide on levels of provision.

Other suggestions put forward include easing restrictions placed on developers regarding new access roads and junctions on motorways. Developers would no longer have to fund mitigation measures “unless the impacts of their proposals are severe”.

The Roads Minister said: “We want to encourage economic growth, while reducing bureaucracy for businesses and local communities. I hope that local authorities and private developers will take the time to give us their views on our proposals for cutting unnecessary red tape and make planning decisions easier and quicker for all involved.”

The consultation closes on 25 March and a summary of responses will be published before the end of June. A revised policy document could be published as early as this autumn.

Photo credit: Paul Farmer

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