High Court Rules in Favour of New Service Area
4 February 2012

The High Court has dismissed a challenge put forward by Roadchef, Welcome Break and Local Parish Councils to overturn the Grant of Planning Permission by Stroud District Council in August 2010.

Tony Bateman, Managing Director of Pegasus Planning Group, says “We are very pleased with the decision. The dismissal confirms our argument for the need of a new and advanced service area in this location of the M5. The decision marks an exciting new era in motorway service areas in this country. The scheme was landscape led by Pegasus Landscape Design in order to significantly reduce impact on the surrounding landscape.”

Sarah Dunning, Chief Executive of Westmorland Limited is extremely happy with the decision saying “The High Court has recognised that when making its decision in 2010, Stroud District Council had fully considered all the issues and made an appropriate decision.”

The sustainable motorway service area, located between Junctions 11a and 12 of the M5, will now be delivered, bringing valuable benefits to local communities while respecting the local area.

The landscape led design approach was based on a comprehensive landscape analysis to identify the most appropriate envelope of land for development, within which a high quality building is sensitively located.

Pegasus Planning Group was appointed lead consultants in 2008 by Westmorland Limited.