A NEW service station and hotel are planned for the outskirts of York, next to the A64.

The development on Green Belt farmland, near the Hopgrove roundabout, is vital to improving road safety, according to the company behind the plans.

The company said there are only four service areas along the 53 miles of the A64 from the A1(M) to the B1261, near Scarborough, and that more areas are needed to reduce the risk of accidents caused by drivers being tired.

Proposals by planning consultants England & Lyle, the agents for the scheme, said there was a 42-mile gap in provision between the services at Bilbrough and Staxton, and a Highways Agency review had shown at least three more sites were required to allow drivers the chance to take regular breaks.

If approved, the development would include lodge-style accommodation with up to 50 rooms and a petrol station as well as refreshment facilities and a children’s play area. There would be 182 parking spaces for cars and nine for lorries, with four access and exit routes.

A planning application has been submitted to City of York Council and a decision could be made later this month.

In a statement to the council, England & Lyle said: “It is the Government’s objective to encourage greater choice in the provision of service facilities for all road users, encouraging drivers to take breaks more frequently and so reducing the number of fatigue-related accidents.

“It is evident that there is a strategic need for good quality and comprehensive services as a result of the existing deficiency along the A64.

“The proposed service area lies within the recommended distance between services and will help address this need.”

England & Lyle said it would not be possible to ensure service stations on the A64 were no more than 14 miles or 30 minutes apart – the maximum distance recommended by transport agencies – without looking at sites in the Green Belt.

It said Hopgrove was the most suitable location for restricting the impact on the countryside and said local jobs would be created during construction and when the hotel and services open.