Retailer Jonathan James has got the green light to build a new site following a three year battle with the local planning authorities in Cambridgeshire. Jonathan, who estimates the fight has cost him about £70,000 in legal fees and numerous reports and studies, received the news that the site could go ahead after councillors at East
Cambridgeshire District Council voted in favour of the planning application last week.
Jonathan says the £1.5 million project will be on a greenfield site on the A10 near the market town of Littleport in Cambridgeshire. The former Forecourt Trader of the Year winner, who owns three other forecourts and two other standalone shops, said: "We’ve got the planning permission through for a petrol station with five pumps on a greenfield site, there is also permission for a jetwash and car parking. However, we’re still waiting for the authorities to send us their list of planning conditions through, including how big a shop I’m allowed and what the shop can sell.
"It’s been a long wait – it’s been horrendous actually, I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through this. But equally we could have spent the £70,000 and and not got permission to go ahead with the site, so I’m relieved at the decision."
Jonathan is hoping for the list of planning conditions to come through next week, and aims to have the site built within the next 12 months.
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