M49 ghost junction finally set to be joined to local roads

The infamous M49 ghost junction is finally set to be brought into use, with councillors expected to grant planning permission for a 160-metre link road next week. National Highways spent £40million to £50million to build the roundabout above the motorway between Severn Beach and Chittering, intended to be junction one.

But it has stood unused and unconnected to the local road network or the huge Severnside industrial estates and distribution centres since it was completed in 2020. Plans for the much-needed link road[1] were submitted earlier this year and £7million of funding secured from the Department for Transport.

South Gloucestershire[2] Council cabinet also approved the use of compulsory purchase orders[3] (CPOs) to secure the necessary land, which had a variety of owners, which it could not acquire through negotiation. Now the planning application[4] is going to the strategic sites delivery committee on Thursday, November 23, where officers are recommending approval.

A temporary cycleway will be re-routed as part of the proposals. A report to the committee said: “The Amazon, Farm Foods and Lidl distribution centres are all located in the immediate vicinity of the application site.

“The Range, Tesco[5], Next, Royal Mail, DHL, TK Maxx & Huboo all have major large-scale facilities nearby. Currently the area has no direct access to the M49 and the national road network.

“The M49 gyratory at the eastern end of the application site constructed by National Highways provides the necessary access, with the proposed link road the final element for full road access to and from the Severnside employment area and nearby settlements such as the village of Severn Beach. In short, the development proposed is required.”

The report said this would ease pressure from HGVs and other traffic using the A403. It said the short stretch of new road to link the junction was never completed “due to unforeseen circumstances”.

No street lighting is proposed along the link road. The report said the plans were strongly supported by Pilning & Severn Beach Parish Council, MP Luke Hall and local business group Severnet.

It said initial holding objections were lodged by National Highways, Natural England and the council’s sustainable transport, drainage and ecology teams as they sought further information on issues such as updated predictions on traffic flows but that all were now satisfied. The report said adjacent landowner Euro Garages did not support the proposed replacement cycleway and connection to its site’s boundary because it conflicted with its own agreement with National Highways over drainage and where the route should go.

But planning officers say the cycle path had to be altered slightly following safety assessments and that the retail company’s proposals could be changed reasonably to fit with this. Euro Garages recently submitted plans for a new service station[6] on a large disused plot at Central Park, including a drive-thru believed to be a new McDonald's, petrol station, coffee shop, two restaurants and a convenience store, with access via Goldcrest Way.

The committee report makes no reference to the previous issues of land ownership or CPOs. The link road is expected to take 12 months to complete.

References

  1. ^ Plans for the much-needed link road (council.southglos.gov.uk)
  2. ^ South Gloucestershire (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
  3. ^ approved the use of compulsory purchase orders (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
  4. ^ the planning application (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
  5. ^ Tesco (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
  6. ^ plans for a new service station (www.bristolpost.co.uk)

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