Moto responds to concerns over M3 J6 services plan

As previously reported, John Raymond, chair of Winslade Parish Meeting, expressed concerns to the Gazette that the creation of a new Motorway Service Area (MSA) would cause more harm than good for road users and locals alike, and that by switching from a full to an outline application, Moto is "misusing" the planning system.

Moto Hospitality, the largest operator of MSAs in the UK, submitted an outline planning application to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) in March 2025, asking for permission to build the service station at J6. Consultation is due to begin on Monday, January 12, according to the BDBC planning portal.

Now, the company has responded to criticism, stating that the MSA would provide important safety facilities for lorry drivers and bring hundreds of jobs to the area.

How the service station might look (Image: Moto)

A spokesperson for Moto Hospitality said: "Our proposals for Moto Basingstoke address a clearly identified need on this section of the motorway, in line with national planning policy and the DFT Circular 01/2022.

"The Department for Transport state that the role of motorway service areas is to provide drivers with an opportunity to stop and rest, in the interest of road safety.

"At a cabinet meeting in December 2025, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council acknowledged the shortage of HGV parking within the Borough and the associated safety and welfare impacts of overnight parking in inappropriate locations."

The company argues that it would inject an estimated £50m of investment into the project while creating 250 new jobs for residents.

CGI design of the outside (Image: Moto)

The spokesperson continued: "The proposals respond directly to both national and locally recognised needs, delivering HGV parking in an appropriate motorway location while helping to reduce impacts currently experienced across the wider District, alongside around £50 million in investment, 250 new jobs and wider economic benefits for Basingstoke.

"Our previous application was withdrawn following extensive discussions with the council, and we resubmitted a scheme that responds to those comments. The new application aligns with updated government policy on MSAs, and provides for enhanced facilities for lorry drivers, alongside EV charging for all vehicle types."

Mr Raymond had suggested that Moto was "misusing" the planning system by switching from a previously rejected full planning application to an outline application.

He said previously: "It seemed our many strong objections were, after seven years, winning the fight against the original 2017 full application.

"We assume this is why Moto decided to enter their revised 2025 outline application and withdraw their full Application. An outline application with most details unspecified is more difficult to target with objections, and we assume more difficult for BDBC planners to recommend for refusal.

"If this vague outline application is approved, it seems likely Moto will be able to bend any planning conditions that may be imposed. It will be difficult to control the development as it proceeds to be built given the lack of detail that would have been provided at the approval stage."

Moto addressed these concerns, saying: "The submission of an outline application is a well-established and legitimate part of the planning process.

"It allows the principle of development and key parameters to be considered upfront, with detailed design and operational matters subject to further approval through reserved matters and planning conditions.

"This does not reduce planning scrutiny or local authority control as all stages of the planning application must be determined by the Council.

"The application is supported by a comprehensive suite of technical assessments. National Highways and the Environment Agency have confirmed that they have no objections to the proposals.

"National Highways has also confirmed that the site is suitably located to help address the shortfall in HGV parking and EV charging provision on this part of the network between Fleet and Winchester services."