Applegreen is planning its first motorway service area in mainland Britain, at junction 4 of the M42, near Shirley in the West Midlands.
The Top 50 Indie company has been holding consultation meetings with local residents prior to lodging a planning application in September.
In its brochure for the scheme Applegreen says it will create approximately 300 jobs and will comprise a two-storey amenity area, parking for 611 cars, 11 coaches and 77 HGV vehicles and separate fuel facilities for coaches and trucks.
Applegreen also pledges to offer fuel at competitive prices with fuel price displays on the motorway signage so motorists can see the value on offer.
The scheme is one of two competing to provide facilities on this part of the M42, with the other plan proposed by Extra for a site close to junction 5.
In Applegreen’s brochure it highlights the way its scheme will minimise its environmental impact with a grass roof and extensive planting on the 8.7ha site, similar to the Forecourt Trader of the year award winning M5 services at Gloucester. The schemes share the same designer, AFL Architects.
It contrasts the compact size of its scheme with the other one which it says is 61.7ha, and will require the removal of 1,900sq m of ancient woodland. It adds that far less infrastructure would be required by its scheme.
Although it would be Applegreen’s first MSA on the British mainland it claims to be the number one MSA operator in the Republic of Ireland, and a recently opened site near Belfast, in Northern Ireland, has attracted large numbers of customers.
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