Green light secured for final designs of £60m Leeds Skelton Lake Services

Detailed designs have been approved for a ‘new concept’ £60m Motorway Service Area (MSA) at Junction 45 of the M1, next to the Enterprise Zone in Leeds.

Leeds City Council Planning Officers recommended that a Reserved Matters Application be approved by Members at a Plans Panel meeting on the 29th March, in which the Plans Panel unanimously agreed.

The approval gives the final ‘green light’ to Extra MSA Group to commence construction works at ‘Leeds Skelton Lake Services’.

Due to open during Summer 2019, the new MSA will improve road safety within the section of the Motorway Network between the existing MSAs at M62 Hartshead Moor, M1 Woolley Edge and A1M Wetherby.

The site is located at the Gateway to the Leeds Enterprise Zone and Extra’s investment in the Leeds City Region will create over 700 new jobs throughout its construction and operation.

The contractor for the enabling works package is expected to be announced and on-site by mid April.

Extra’s proposals include a food court style facilities building, which will provide a wide range of food and ancillary retail outlets, together with a business centre, fuel filling station and 100-bedroom hotel.

The building design features sweeping and exposed long span glulam timber beams with an undulating ‘Living Green Roof’ to tie into the natural landscape.

The building interior also includes a new visitor centre, community space and an upper-floor viewing deck overlooking Skelton Lake and Gardens.

By improving footpath and cycle connectivity to and around Skelton Lake, the development will also form part of a ‘Green Corridor’ linking the Grade-I listed Temple Newsam House and Parklands to the north of the MSA, with Rothwell Country Park.

Andrew Long, CEO of Extra MSA Group, said: “We are pleased to receive final approval from Leeds City Council Plans Panel and are looking forward to commencing construction works on site as soon as reasonably possible in April.

“We are committed to this £60m investment in the Region’s Motorway Network, which will improve road safety, create some 300 hundred FTE permanent new jobs and provide an important strategic ‘Gateway’ development to showcase Leeds and the wider City Region.

“With a first-class design and a range of significant economic, social and environmental benefits, Leeds Skelton Lake Services will set a new standard for Motorway Service Areas in the UK.”

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