A planning saga that has rumbled on for a quarter of a century is now settled, after local councillors granted Welcome Break permission to go ahead with a new services in Yorkshire.
Vale of York Services, also known as Kirby Hill Services, was first proposed for land between J48 and 49 of the A1(M) in 1996, meeting with a string of objections and three public enquiries before outline planning consent was granted in 2021.
Now, North Yorkshire Council has given Welcome Break and its parent company, Irish firm Applegreen, approval on ‘reserved matters’ for the services, effectively granting permission for it to be built.
The project comprises a main amenity building, a filling station, a drive-through coffee shop and parking for 364 cars, 90 HGVs, 18 coaches, plus motorcycle and caravan bays.
Local pressure group Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services has long objected to the proposals, arguing they would lead to the loss of agricultural land, and that the plans have grown in scope and scale over the years.
Despite approval for the services now being granted, the group says “the fight continues”, highlighting that in February 2026 the High Court overturned planning consent for another A1(M) services that was granted permission in 2024.
