Environment Secretary John Gummer has overturned Bromsgrove Council’s ruling and given preliminary approval to Bryant Group’s proposal for a motorway service station close to Junction 2 of the M42 at Hopwood, West Midlands. The site is located on green belt land.
About 21ha (8.5 acre) of the scheme’s 34ha (84.01 acre) site has been set aside as a nature reserve.
But Gummer has refused consent for a motel and associated car parking, which also formed part of Bryant’s application. He judged the harm to green belt land outweighed arguments in the motel’s favour.
Egi News 22/07/96
