The development would be just to the south of the junction 37 interchange, alongside the A4229.
The proposed drive-through restaurants could include a McDonald’s, Greggs and a Starbucks or Costa, along with seating areas and toilet facilities. These would be in three separate buildings rather than the more integrated services stations seen on other parts of the motorway network.
The development would be accessed by a new road off the A4229.
With regards the proposed new petrol station, planning documents say that “notwithstanding government policy to phase out the sale of new petrol/diesel cars by 2030, there will continue to be demand, albeit reducing, for petrol/diesel sales for a further 15 years or so after that.”
“To cater for future changes, the PFS will have a large number of electric charging stations from the outset, and there is currently a significant under-provision off these along this stretch of the M4.
“The operator also envisages increasing the number of charging points as electric cars become more popular, and in turn reducing the number of petrol pumps, in line with the take up of electric private vehicles by the public.
“Depending on future developments in HGV propulsion, provision for hydrogen tanks to replace diesel in the medium to long term is also feasible.”
Draycott Group, who are behind the plans, recently completed a similar development in St Clears off the A40 trunk road between Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
The St Clears development was initially refused by Carmarthenshire planners, but granted on appeal by Welsh Government planning inspectors.
Initial pre-application discussions with Bridgend County Borough Council on the proposed Pyle development were “negative” according to the latest submission, but the developer pointed out that all of the same arguments that the planning inspector gave for approving the St Clears scheme would also apply to Pyle.
The developers say they are willing to construct a car-sharing or park and ride facility at Junction 37 if the council is willing to run it.
Planning documents say: “During the course of the previous discussions, the developer, in response to comments as to J37 being a car-sharing location, indicated a preparedness to include land either as a car-sharing facility or P&R.
“Moreover, the developer would be prepared to fund/develop such a facility, on the basis that it would then be leased to the Council to operate. It is understood that the proposed P&R facility at Pyle has failed to attract funding, although it remains an objective for the Council.
“Should the Council not be interested in promoting such a facility at this site, or does not feel that it could be successfully operated, then the developer would not propose pursuing the matter alone.”
The proposals will now be decided by Bridgend County Borough Council’s planning department.
