Why?
Need
Several factors prove there is a need for a new motorway service station in this area, ranging from national government policy to ensuring that both road and HGV users have suitable, safe and well-located facilities on the M25.
National Highways called a meeting with all Motorway Service Area operators in Feb 2022 to raise their concerns over highway safety on the M25 East near Brentwood, asking operators to help provide a safe place for drivers to rest whilst travelling on the Strategic Road Network.
National Policy states that a motorist should have the opportunity to stop, rest and take a break every 30 minutes or within 28 miles of drive time; where there is an identified need for additional HGV parking this reduces to a maximum distance of 14 miles between Services.
The distance between Thurrock and South Mimms Services is 33 miles; the distance between Thurrock and Birchanger is 31 miles; and the new Lower Thames Crossing will bypass Thurrock Services creating a gap of more than 60 miles.
Our proposals for Brentwood respond to this identified need and will boost highway safety on this stretch of the M25.
The need for Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure
Under current Government plans, road users will no longer be able to buy new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, and by 2040, 80% of cars on the road will be EVs. However, our local and national road networks are not evolving fast enough to meet this demand.
EV charging is different to petrol and diesel refuelling, and users need appropriate places to recharge which accounts for increased dwell time during charges. We also need to account for ‘range anxiety’ - the worry that an EV will run out of charge before reaching its destination. If road networks do not evolve to allow for recharging, our ability as a country to achieve ambitious Net Zero targets will be hindered, and our economic productivity will fall.
In short, we need to provide many more reliable fast charging opportunities, in the right locations, to ensure drivers feel confident enough to make the switch to electric cars and support the transition to cleaner travel. At Moto alone that includes providing a total of 5,000 high Power EV charging bays by 2040.
Our proposals for Brentwood will also meet a severe local shortage of High-Power EV charging bays on the eastern side of the M25.
Supporting HGV drivers
HGV drivers are the backbone of our economy, ensuring our shelves are stocked and our essentials, such as medical supplies, are delivered on time. Drivers deserve a suitable, safe place to stop at night.
However, there is a critical shortage of HGV spaces both nationwide and in the East of England.
Out of all regions in England, the East is the nearest to full capacity (95% utilisation), well over the critical threshold of 85% set by The Department for Transport.
A shortage of secure HGV spaces leads to parking in unsuitable locations such as laybys and industrial estates and increases stress in an industry struggling to retain workers.
We will deliver around 400 new HGV spaces in this key location on the M25, helping free up capacity across the region and ensuring drivers have somewhere safe and secure to park at night.
