London & South East

Catering for the M25

M25 Cobham

A project to build a 60-acre motorway service area (MSA) in Cobham is now complete.

Located between Junctions 9 and 10 of the M25, the £60 million scheme saw the construction of a brand new MSA and an associated motorway junction. The new Cobham MSA will provide an important rest point for passengers and also includes a mixture of food and retail units along with a linked hotel.

London based practice Project & Building Consultancy Ltd (PBC) was the contract administrator and project manager on the scheme. BAM Construction was the main contractor, whilst Balfour Beatty completed the associated M25 highway junction located approximately 2 miles south of Junction 10.

The new MSA includes a main amenity building that comprises a mixture of food and retail outlets, a gaming/amusement unit, a business centre and associated ancillary facilities. A linked 75-bedroom Days Inn Hotel, a Shell filling station and 900 parking spaces are also located at the site.

M25 Cobham

The MSA scheme was developed by the Extra MSA Group after planning permission was granted by the Secretary of State in 2005. The amenity building on the Cobham site has been designed in a style similar to the Group’s Beaconsfield MSA and offers road users a relaxing and comfortable rest stop alongside one of the busiest stretches of the M25.

Extra MSA has previously developed MSAs at the A1M J19 Peterborough, A14 (M11) Cambridge and A1M J10 Baldrock.

MSA Group Chief Executive of Extra, Andrew Long, said:

“Extra is pleased to see this long running project has now come to successful fruition and ahead of programme. I first put the land under control in 1994 and following promotion of this scheme at five public inquiries – dealing with a High Court quashing and a re-opened public inquiry – Extra has now been actively pursuing this scheme for some 18 years.

“The Cobham MSA will be one of the largest and busiest facilities of its kind in the UK, in a truly unique location midway between Gatwick and Heathrow Airports.”

PBC Managing Director, Paul Philips, added:

“Our experienced project managers have successfully addressed the significant challenges of planning and supervising the construction of a new underpass below the busiest section of the M25 motorway.

M25 Cobham

“The development is in a key location for the M25 travelling public and will undoubtedly be in great demand. PBC are delighted to have managed this exciting and challenging project, having previously delivered the MSA at Beaconsfield on the M40 in Buckinghamshire and other service area developments around the UK.”

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