§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications for the development of motorway service areas have been made since the 15 miles apart guidance was adopted; how many applications have been subject to a public inquiry; and how many of those were(a) approved and (b) refused. [36307]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe minimum spacing between motorway service areas (MSAs) was reduced from 30 miles to 15 in 1993. Since then, exactly 100 MSA planning applications have been referred to the Highways Agency by local planning authorities. 52 of them were subsequently the subject of public inquiries and, of those, 8 were granted planning permission and 44 refused.