Circle K objects to Applegreen Dunshaughlin service area

Plans by Petrogas for an Applegreen Motorway Service Area in Dunshaughlin are being objected to by rival filling station operator Circle K.

Petrogas Group Ltd lodged a planning application last August for a service area and electric vehicle charging on a 3.4 hectares site at Knocks, Dunshaughlin. The plans include 36 electric vehicle charging point parking spaces, eight general fuel pumps, and two HGV fuel pumps together with underground fuel storage tanks and ancillary pipe works.

An amenity/services building is proposed to include a retail convenience store with off-licence, two food outlets, one of which would be a drive-through, a coffee area, ancillary food preparation area, welfare facilities and a seating area to seat 166. Two picnic areas and a children's play area are proposed outside.

A driver exercise area, 92 car parking spaces, four family spaces, six accessible spaces, six car-parking spaces, three coach parking spaces, 12 HGV spaces and 12 bicycle spaces are included in the plans.

One objection was made on the plans, by Circle K Energy Ltd. A submission prepared on the company's behalf by consultants Coakley O'Neill Town Planning Ltd stated that the development constitutes a motorway service area in "an area that has not been appropriately designed for a development of this nature and is therefore contrary to the Meath County Development Plan 2021 and Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2012".

The submission also claimed that the nature and scale of the proposed facility is such that it "will become a destination in its own right and undermine the vibrancy and vitality of Dunshaughlin Town Centre.

However, in its planning report accompanying the application, Declan Brassil on behalf of Petrogas, argues that the proposed development "is not of a scale that it will undermine the retail core of Dunshaughlin" and has a net retail floor area consistent with the 100 square cap.

Meath County Council requested further information on the plans in October which was submitted by the applicant in February. The planning authority is due to make a decision on the application next month.

A previous application by Applegreen for a similar development was granted planning permission by Meath County Council in 2016, but this was overturned by An Bord Pleanala on appeal, who refused it as the land was not zoned.