Sheffield Council expresses concern over plans to build M1 service station near Rotherham

Before the plans were approved Sheffield Council wrote a letter expressing its concern over increased traffic levels the service station would bring to the already busy junction.

Edward Highfield, director of City Growth at the council, said “Sheffield City Council has consistently expressed concerns regarding the traffic impacts of the proposed motorway service station at Junction 33. We want to ensure vital junction capacity is protected for high value jobs and inward investments associated with the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District and the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.”

Developers Applegreen PLC say the particular stretch of the M1 motorway does not meet Government safety requirements for a rest area every 28 miles.

But Richard Wright, executive chairman of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said approval of the plans could have a detrimental impact on the growth of the Advanced Manufacturing Park and may potentially put off any future investors.

He said: "This project is a real conflict between short term gains and longer term opportunities. In the short term, Rotherham Council have shown limited traffic effects, some job creation and some investment. Longer term this junction is critical to the projected growth of the Advanced Manufacturing Park, the Sheffield Business Park and the Olympic Legacy Park which will deliver so much more.

“This junction is already abyssmal during the rush hour and work is already started to increase capacity for future development of Waverley and the aforementioned critical economical projects.

“To take up some of this capacity for a Motorway Junction smacks of real short termism but is probably reflective of the lack of our local authorities to work together at a political level and in a non-parochial way on long term projects like Devolution and economic growth. We have a lot to learn from places like Manchester and Birmingham".

Extra Motorway Service Area Group has submitted a planning application for a similar service station – with a hotel, petrol station and parking – on a site at junction 35 of the M1, near Chapeltown, 10 miles away from the Catcliffe junction.