A LEGAL hearing is being held in January to review plans to build a £35 million motorway service near junction 12 of the M5.

The judicial review, which is set for January 17 and 18, is spearheaded by Welcome Break Group and Roadchef, who claim planning permission for the scheme was granted unlawfully.

The 66-acre development , at Ongars Farm in Brookthorpe, was a joint application submitted by Westmorland Ltd and Gloucestershire Gateway Trust, who say the services will create 300 jobs.

The case is being brought to Birmingham High Court on the grounds that when Stroud District Council approved planning permission in December 2010, it failed to consider an objection by Roadchef and Welcome Break Group.

Both companies are questioning the need for another services which would be located in the middle of Michaelwood services, owned by Welcome Break and Strensham Motorway Services, owned by Roadchef, on the M5.

They also say the council failed to consider an objection by Natural England, which said the proposals would have a significant effect on the landscape of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The rival services are backed by local protest group Campaign Against Motorway Service Areas and Harescombe and Brookthorpe-with-Whaddon parish councils.

SDC says it intends to defend its case fiercely.