Cobham services
| Cobham services | |
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 Cobham services (Surrey)
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| Information | |
| County: | Surrey |
| Road: | M25 |
| Coordinates: | 51°18′21″N 0°24′33″W / 51.3057147°N 0.4092686°WCoordinates: 51°18′21″N 0°24′33″W / 51.3057147°N 0.4092686°W |
| Operator: | Extra MSA |
| Date opened: | 2012 |
| Website: | Extra MSA: Cobham |
Cobham services is a motorway service area on the M25 motorway in Surrey between junctions 9 and 10. It is operated by Extra MSA and was opened for business on 13 September 2012. Its planned opening date was scheduled to be early 2010, but was changed to early 2012 following various planning issues. The services were constructed as there was concern with the large 65 mile (104 km) gap without any service areas. At either end of that stretch of motorway was South Mimms services and Clacket Lane services, and the Secretary of State explained there was a clear and compelling need for a further service area. There are a total of four service areas on the London Orbital motorway, the other is Thurrock.
Unusually, one service area is provided for both traffic directions and it is all located to the south of the motorway. Access from the eastbound carriageway is via a tunnel underneath the M25. Access from the west-bound carriageway is from the motorway itself.
As with a number of modern service stations, many have an ecological aspect such as an sustainable drainage system, rain-harnessing or a renewable energy source. Cobham has been designed to include a sustainable drainage system that filters the water from silt and sand, cleans the water, and then naturally attenuates the water into local watercourses. Retention basins, swales and infiltration trenches deal with excess water, storm water and most importantly flood risk. The infiltration trenches drain water using pebbles and small stones which naturally filter and store water, the remaining stored water is channeled out of the site. The retention basins collect water runoff, and the water outflow out of the basins is carefully controlled, the lakes have water piped to infiltration trenches. Even though these basins are designed to collect water and drain water in a more controlled way, some water escapes and seeps (infiltrates) into the ground. Depending on the season the water level in all of these trenches and basins change dramatically. The infiltration trenches then flow into local watercourses. The swales (marsh areas) are less complex and drain water directly into the ground, they are surrounded by vegetation. Just like infiltration trenches, swales also attenuate, filter and clean water. Vegetation which is around the service area and its drainage system, helps to absorb harmful substances to the environment and clean water in the infiltration trenches, swales, retention basins and around the site.
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