Work has begun on the redevelopment of a Shell owned forecourt between Southampton and Portsmouth.
The Wickham, Fareham Road site is undergoing extensive improvements, which will see the existing kiosk demolished and a far larger shop constructed on the opposite end of the forecourt where a tyre and vehicle workshop currently sits.
Planning documents reveal Shell considers that the site “does not fully meet the needs of motorists”, while highlighting that “there continues to be strong competition between fuel retailers”, and that “filling stations are a vital necessity, having been likened to post offices and local shops as vital community facilities”.
To cater for modern motorists’ needs, Shell is knocking down the 900sq ft forecourt shop and replacing it with a 2,800sq ft erection that will sit where the existing vehicle workshop is. The new building will be “modern in appearance, utilising lightweight materials to create a clean and crisp appearance”. Customer toilets will also feature, while the glass-fronted shop will improve security as staff can better monitor the forecourt, while also “assisting in creating visual interest”.
Four EV charging bays are also being installed on land currently occupied by the old forecourt shop, and five designated parking spaces will replace the “ad hoc” arrangement that previously existed. The underground tanks will be retained, as will the four pump-island arrangement of the forecourt.
The works are being carried out in partnership with Artelia, which recently announced it was extending its long-running relationship with Shell.
