Planning application submitted for huge new £7.2m service station in Derry

Plans for a £7.2m service station on the A6 in Co Derry could soon be set to go before local council planners.
Ambitious plans for the huge new service station were originally unveiled in July 2020, but W&J Chambers Ltd has now submitted the plans to Derry City and Strabane District Council.
The current proposal includes a filling station, car wash, cafe, restaurant, shop, tourist information, toilets, and ATM, along with an amenity and picnic area, and sufficient parking for cars, caravans and motorhomes, coaches and HGV lorries.
If approved, the new station will be based beside the Lismacarol Roundabout in Drumahoe.
The major application has the potential to generate 80 construction jobs while representing an investment in the Drumahoe area of £7.2million, according to the developers.
A retail assessment submitted to the council’s planning department said: “The scheme will provide a main building providing a mix of retail sales for the service station and six franchise hot food and café units including a drive-thru facility. Public toilets and seating areas (internal and external) are provided.
“The shop associated with this facility sells goods that long-distance travellers use. It will sell confectionery, crisps, soft drinks, cigarettes, magazines, books, maps, packaged sandwiches and salads, traybakes, lottery tickets and essential toiletries.
“The internal seating area provides 208 seats and circulation area and extends to about 624 sq m.
“Public toilets are provided at the ground floor for the public to use and two accessible/baby changing toilets are provided. Driver showers are provided in the toilets.”
The retail assessment also revealed that teh ground floor will include a tourist information area and ATM machine.
“Stairs and a lift provide access to the first floor. On the first floor will be a 12 sq m coffee area with soft seating and tables. It will also provide an indoor soft play area for children alongside four-driver showers and an accessible toilet,” it said.
“The forecourt will comprise a large canopy above six islands providing multiple pumps. Adjacent to the pumps is a car wash and a car maintenance area providing air and water. The forecourt has parking for five cars, one parent and child space and 3 disabled parking spaces.
“The main car park has five e-charging points and four more disabled parking spaces. It also has 4 parent and child parking spaces. There are circa 193 surface level car parking spaces, provided in the main car parking area.
“Beyond that, there are eight coach car parking spaces, nine caravan and motorhome parking spaces, one caravan e-charging point and a Motorhome ServicePoint (this is an area where water, toilet emptying, bins and greywater can be disposed of).
“To the rear of the site is a Gas Storage Compound, an HGV fuelling point and 10 HGV parking spaces.”
The plans can be viewed at Northern Ireland’s planning portal by searching LA11/2020/0486/O.