A ‘Go’ petrol filling station – complete with two new drive-thru outlets – that could create over 160 jobs in Lurgan has been recommended for approval following a recent Council Planning Committee meeting.
With a planned investment of around £8 million, the proposals have been drawn up by the Co Tyrone-based LCC Group Ltd, which owns the ‘Go’ brand.
The exact location of the intended development is on “lands at Millennium Way, adjacent to and south-east of Home Bargains, west of and adjacent to nos.1 to 9 (odds) Gilford Road and 60m south-west of nos. 2-30 Hamilton Street (evens), Lurgan”.
The petrol filling station would be unmanned and include 10 fuel pumps, which would be self-serve and payable by card.
There would also be two service bays, four drive-thru lance washes, two drive-thru car washes and five valet bays.
The drive-thru developments, meanwhile, would take the form of a coffee shop outlet – with two waiting bays – and a hot food/restaurant, with both internal and external seating.
Due to the size of the “mixed development” the company submitted a Pre-Application Notice (PAN) to ABC Council in October 2024 and a number of considerations have been made regarding approval.
At the Planning Committee meeting on September 3, Council Planning officials were advised that there is a condition restricting the hours of operation for the development.
Under consideration of the operating hours a further condition was imposed restricting the times of all external lighting with lights to be switched off by 11pm, with the exception of security lighting in the interests of “residential and visual amenity”.
Officials also highlighted a “drafting error” in the report regarding parking provision and noted there are 65 dedicated parking spaces proposed.
Due to the type and floorspace of the development – and guidance under parking standards – a total of 70 spaces would be required.
However, bringing attention to the drive-thru restaurants, it was highlighted that these should normally have minimum length of queue to provide for 15 cars without interference of other parking or traffic.
Under the current proposals, the queue provision allows for a total 24… nine more than is required.
Noting that while there is a shortfall of five spaces for dedicated car parking provision, officials explained the queue lengths have been extended above the minimum and therefore, are content the proposals accord with guidance.
According to the supporting statement, the development, if approved, would deliver an economic investment of £8m.
It would create around 40 jobs during construction works, with an estimated 125 more, both full and part-time positions, when up and running.
The main access will be by the existing roundabout via Millenium Way, shared with Home Bargains to the west of the site.
Planning officials concluded by recommending the development for approval on the basis there is no change to the plans.
