COUNCILLORS are set to decide on the proposed redevelopment of a Chester petrol station site which includes a drive-thru food and drink facility.

Members of Cheshire West and Chester Council's planning committee will meet on Tuesday, July 6 to rule on the plans for Moston Service Station on Liverpool Road.

A planning application submitted last year by Petrogas Group proposes to demolish the existing petrol station with the removal of all buildings, forecourt pumps, canopy and underground tanks and pipework.

As part of the plans, a new single-storey sales building – including a drive thru-facility and ATM – would be constructed along with four pump islands and a canopy, two underground tanks, petrol interceptor, drainage containment and one electric vehicle charging bay.

There would also be ten parking spaces created at the redeveloped site.

Chester and District Standard:

The proposals for Moston Service Station in Chester. Image: Planning application.

In a report to members, council case officer Steven Holmes is recommending that the scheme is approved.

He states that the application has been called in to the planning committee by councillor Jill Houlbrook as a result of "concerns relating to impacts upon the highway and neighbouring residential amenity".

The triangular site currently comprises a forecourt with a canopy and a total of eight pumps, and a part single, part two-storey building with a shop and concession areas to the front, and workshops to the rear.

There is a redundant car wash located to the side of the building and a working car wash to the rear.

Planning permission was granted back in December 2017 for the demolition of the existing buildings, canopy and removal of fuel tanks and the erection of replacement facilities but was never implemented and has since expired.

According to the planning report, a number of objections have been made in relation to the proposed development.

These include concerns over an increase in traffic levels having an adverse impact on the safety of the surrounding highway network, specifically in relation to the potential for queuing on the A41 and the site being used as a ‘cut through’ between Moston Road and Liverpool Road.

Other fears raised were an increase in air pollution and litter, potential anti-social behaviour, and the site not being suitable for a drive-through, which "should instead be located on industrial estates or near motorways".

In his planning report, Mr Holmes said: "Taken as a whole, however, the replacement buildings would occupy far less space than the existing buildings so, spatially speaking, the development would not have a greater impact upon the openness of the Green Belt than the existing buildings.

"The buildings would occupy roughly the same positions as the existing buildings and there would be no greater spread of development across the site.

"In views from the surrounding area the site would appear more open as a result of the proposed development owing to the reduction in built form.

"Following consultation with the Highways Officer, the waiting lane for the drive-through has been extended to enable up to 10 cars to be accommodated in the queue.

"This capacity should negate the need for vehicles to queue on the A41. The positions of the serving hatch and order point are critical to ensuring the queue capacity is maintained and preventing queuing on the A41, so a condition would need to be imposed to require that this layout is not altered in future.

"A condition would also need to be imposed prohibiting the service of hot food from the drive-through as this may result in longer queue times which in turn would lead to a greater risk of the queue backing onto the highway."

He concludes: "The proposal is considered to represent appropriate development within the Green Belt.

"Subject to conditions, it is not considered that the proposed development would have any significant harmful impacts in respect of highways, visual amenity, residential amenity or land quality.

"Subject to the recommended conditions, and taking into account all material planning considerations, it is considered that the proposed development accords with the relevant provisions of the Development Plan."

  • Councillors will meet at 4pm on Tuesday, July 6 to consider the application.