Forecourt operators are landlords as much as they are retailers, and a new project near Newcastle has underlined just how important location and space are when new projects are being considered.
The land in question is adjacent to the A1 duel carriageway 12 miles to the north of the city. A forecourt once occupied the site, which is so extensive and well located that Northumberland County Council has granted permission for the construction of a new service station and holiday park.
GH Group, the developers, have bold plans for the plot. Now that permission has been granted, they will be constructing a modern, sweeping, wood-framed main building featuring a 2,160sq ft farm shop and 3,000sq ft café, alongside six ultra-rapid EV chargers, 20 fast 22kW chargepoints, plus parking for 63 cars.
A holiday park is also being erected, with 18 two-bed cabins and two one-bed cabins nestling among the site’s trees. These will be clad in shingles and constructed from “high-performance, insulated structural timber cassettes”, assembled by Hull-based Blokbuild.
Outdoor terrace seating and meeting rooms will also feature, as will a 7,000sq ft solar-panel array, while a duck pond, fountain and children’s play area are intended to “form the social heart of the green landscaped area”.
The Esso filling station was knocked down and relocated several years ago and its tanks have been removed, though the developers say “some remediation” is required due to the land’s earlier use, and because of the existence of an old mine shaft.
