Proposed Services at M11 Duxford

September 4 2006

There is controversy about a proposed new services at Duxford on the M11. The main objection is the proposed site is directly across the M11 from Duxford airfield- part of the Imperial War Museum, and holds many popular air shows during the year, which brings in a lot of money vital to the preservation to vintage aircraft- as well as giving the public a chance to see these historic aircraft fly.

A Motorway Service Area just across the road would put an end to these shows on safety grounds. The airstrip at Duxford is already shorter than it was as the M11 cuts through where it used to run. There is a prototype Concorde at Duxford which can never leave (by air anyway) as the runway was shortened after it arrived..

Interestingly, a planning application was made for an MSA in the same location back in 1999. (Link) This is was refused on several grounds, including that it would have been constructed in green belt land. Also, 30 miles is the interval period for services, with 15 miles as an “infill” where there is justifiable demand. Here, there are no services 30 miles north of Birchanger Green at Stanstead, so why opt to put them at Duxford?

Indeed Birchanger was designed as a 30 miles services with parking designed to cope until 2015. Additionally the junction is often clogged at peak times with local traffic. And petrol is already available beside the Duxford Museum, on the A505 and alongside the museum, and in the flight path.

Further to the north, Cambridge services, run by “Extra” was built on the A14 (onto which the M11 runs)

The application at Duxford is a change of use application, and being made by Grosvenor Development Co. owned by the Duke Of Wellington (who is 3rd wealthiest man in the UK). Apparently, they promote development of a services on the site each time the council reviews its plans.

Fingers crossed that this gets thrown out so that the threat to Duxford’s airshows is removed. Considering how long the airfield has been there, I’m surprised there's no special protection preventing development of the land in the immediate flight path.

Meanwhile if you really need to stop there, pull off, head west on the A505 towards Royston and you’ll find a petrol station and shop a few yards on the right!