A Grantham service station looks set to receive 40 extra HGV parking spaces.

The operators of the Moto Service Area on Old Great North Road, Great Gonerby, seek to create the spaces on undeveloped parts of the site.

The application will come to the planning committee of South Kesteven District Council on Wednesday February 17 as it is consider a 'major' development.

A report prepared by SKDC planning staff for the meeting recommends councillors back the scheme.

Its site is south of the junction of the A1 and B1174 and the areas of the site proposed for HGV parking are currently undeveloped grass land outside of any main settlement.

The wider site is part of an existing service area that includes a petrol filling station, hotel and refreshments.

The report continued: "The proposal seeks full planning permission to expand the existing 14 space HGV parking space area. The applicant states this is to address a shortfall in HGV parking within the existing service area, which serves vehicles travelling both north and south along the A1.

"The proposed expansion of HGV areas for parking are sited in two areas, the first to the south-eastern corner of the site; directly east of the Motel and the second to the western part of the site. The scheme would provide an additional 40 HGV parking spaces, 11 in the western part of the site and 29 in the south-eastern part. These additional spaces would be accessed from the existing internal one-way road through the site."

Council consultation led to SKDC receiving one letter of representation, which raised concerns over visual, noise and air quality impacts of the proposals and a lack of details in the application.

However, the report noted that the applicant- Moto Hospitality Ltd- has submitted evidence to support the need for such HGV parking. The site is on land allocated for employment and it would service the existing service station business.

The report continued: "The proposed development is a complimentary use to the existing service area and would contribute towards the expansion of the existing

facilities. The proposed development is therefore considered to be acceptable in principle and the need justified. "The existing site has a clearly defined character which is commensurate with and reflective of its current use as a service area." It concluded: "Taking into account the scale and nature of the proposal, and its location within an existing service area, there is not considered to be an unacceptable adverse impact on any residential amenity "The proposal would result in an increased amount of HGV parking to meet the needs of the surrounding highway network. There would be no unacceptable impacts arising from the development and the application is therefore recommended for approval, subject to conditions."