Maxol has announced its largest development in Northern Ireland at Tannaghmore, County Antrim.

The 2.5-acre site on the A26 between Antrim and Ballymena will be a motorway-style service station offering forecourt convenience as well as facilities for trucks and coaches. Franchises will provide freshly prepared food for eating on the premises or to take away.

Maxol has appointed Lowry Building & Civil Engineering as its main contractors to develop the facility and work began on the Ballymena bound service station in September.

The service station is scheduled for completion in spring next year and will create 60 new jobs. Maxol is seeking an experienced retailer to be the licensee at the new premises.

Maxol chief executive Brian Donaldson said: “Today’s announcement comes on the back of a rolling programme of around £95m worth of investment we have made in introducing our new modern forecourt identity across Ireland and in acquiring 17 new properties and developing a further 15 service stations since 2012.

"Our first award-winning large-scale motorway style services area, which opened this year at Mulhuddart on the M3, south west of Dublin, is popular for its extensive forecourt services, retail and fresh food dining and we are looking forward to bringing this successful model here to Northern Ireland.”