A £1.5m investment which would have created up to 20 new jobs through plans to build five further shops at Wrights Filling Station in Portadown has been rejected by planning officials.
Proposals for the site on the Dungannon Road were first submitted in November 2022.
There had been no public objections to the development, and all of the statutory bodies consulted were agreeable, but the application has still been turned down by ABC Council planners.
Wrights Service Station is described in supporting information accompanying the application as an independent family-owned business which has operated for three generations – over 90 years – having been established in 1935.
It comprises a SPAR supermarket, petrol filling station forecourt and Post Office, with five additional units.
These house an off-licence, hot food takeaway, hairdressers, Chinese takeaway and a coffee shop.
They were built in 2013 and “provide roadside service and facilities for the rural community and hinterland”.
Plans were later drawn up to build a further five units – as well as a storage unit – on a “brownfield site” on lands to the northwest of the existing petrol filling station, for which approval to extend has also previously been granted.
According to supporting information, the development of the new shops would have brought “significant positive local economic benefits”.
It would have created 25 jobs through construction work, with between 15 and 20 jobs when the units are up and running.
It represented a £1.5m capital investment and would have delivered around £28,000 in annual rates for council.
The supporting statement adds: “The business has grown organically from this location on the strategic road network and serves the needs of the established neighbouring settlements of the Birches, Tartaraghan, Maghery, Milltown and Scotch Street. Wrights are also conveniently located to serve the significant traffic between Portadown, and the M1 Motorway. It is a long-established economic and retail hub for the wider geographical area within the rural hinterland.
“The business sells approximately 40,000 litres of fuel per week, with a busy footfall of around 10,000 people per week, and employs 38 people from the local community on a full-time and part-time basis. Wrights’ turnover is approximately £8 million per year including fuel and off-licence.
“There has been increase in the local population over the recent years due to several new housing developments, which has led to an increase in demand for the provision of neighbourhood shopping and services.
“In 2018, Wrights purchased the derelict commercial yard adjacent to the petrol filling station and was granted permission to extend the existing convenience store.
“This demonstrates Wrights ongoing commitment to meet the local needs of a growing vibrant rural community and to provide roadside facilities on the strategic road network.”
The statement says the proposal enabled an existing gap in the developed frontage to be “infilled with an appropriate development”, one which would provide “social, economic and environmental benefits”.
The statement adds: “The existing five units on the east side are fully let, and the applicant has been approached and received enquiries for additional units.
“This would be indicative of an unmet need, demand and choice for additional services and facilities for those traveling on the strategic road network and rural community which are served within the localised catchment.
“The proposal is a ‘handed’ version of the existing five units already constructed and occupied to the east of Wrights Service Station.”
The proposed units comprised a single storey ‘L’ shape block and boast ‘welfare facilities’ and rear pedestrian door.
Plans were for two larger units, each 74 sq m, and three smaller, at 53 sq m each.
The development would have provided a “wider range and choice of services”. In addition to jobs in construction and in the units themselves, there would have been “induced employment resulting from expenditure in the local economy resultant from wages”.
Wrights Service Station opened at this location in 1935, providing the sale of fuel, convenience shop, Derrykevan Post Office, a tyre depot with car accessories.
The adjacent land was in use since 1920, as a blacksmith shop, as well as trading in car accessories, machinery sales, car sales, and farm produce.
The supporting statement points out: “The planning history of Wrights Service Station demonstrates the natural expansion with addition retail units and services provided to meet the needs of the rural community and those on the road network.”
Planners, in their official report, said they had considered the supporting information.
But they were of the opinion it “does not justify the expansion of the retail business into the countryside”.
They add: “Retail development should be directed towards town centres and insufficient information has been submitted to justify setting aside the relevant policies.”
The applicant will now, if they wish, have the right to appeal the decision through the Planning Appeals Commission NI.
