A national group - Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) - has objected to the proposal to build an M25 service station near Kings Langley.

CPRE said the proposed green belt development, which include the creation of 900 parking spaces and an 80-bed hotel, would bring further congestion to often grid locked roads around Junction 20 of the motorway.

Hon director of CPRE Hertfordshire Kevin FitzGerald said: “The proposal fundamentally is inappropriate development in the green belt and very special circumstances to warrant an exception to Green Belt policy are simply not demonstrated.

“This sprawling scheme of buildings and 24-hour car parking on this elevated site will have appalling lighting and landscape impacts.

Read more: Kings Langley service station planning decision to take another 30 days

“There is an alternative option being consulted on between J16 and J17 of the M25 which could better meet a gap in provision between existing services at Cobham and South Mimms.

“That option is one between junctions, provision which better accords with national transport advice.”

CPRE has also argued the service station would compete and undermine businesses in the nearby area.

The motorway service operator has included a range of shops, a drive-thru coffee unit, a fuel filling station, and an access road off the A41 using a newly-constructed roundabout between the M25 and St. Paul’s Church.

Read more: Detailed plan for M25 Moto service station near Kings Langley released

A planning application was submitted by Moto Hospitality Ltd and The Cayzer Will Trust and it will be decided by Three Rivers District Council in April.

30-day public consultation initially took place from April 11. But after the applicant changed its name, a public consultation was reopened and will run until on June 22.

If given permission, construction it is expected to start in 2020.

To comment on the planning application, go to Three Rivers District Council's online planning register and search for the reference code: 19/0646/OUT