PLANS to build a petrol-filling station with electric car charging and shop on the outskirts of Skipton are being recommended for approval.

The scheme, which was lodged with Craven District Council a year ago, is considered ‘acceptable in principle’ and should be given the go-ahead, the council’s planning committee will be told on Monday (October 3).

If approved, the petrol station will also include a car wash, parking and servicing area on land - designated Local Green Space - between the A59 and Gargrave Road, to the east of the Gargrave roundabout. A new roundabout will be built on Gargrave Road, to be shared with the existing Travelodge, opposite the proposed development, and next to Keelham Farm Shop.

Agents for applicant, Brookfield Property (Holdings) Ltd, a Yorkshire-based developer and ‘operator of high quality and modern roadside service facilities’ state that the station will ‘address a very clear gap in the absence of roadside facilities along the A65/A59 from Ilkley to Harrogate to the east, and Ingleton to the west.”

In submissions to the council, agents, Lichfields says that the plan will generate up to 22 full and part time jobs for local people of ‘differing ages and abilities’.

It states: “It would also help to alleviate traffic from local A-roads and Skipton town centre as road users passing through the area would not need to divert their journeys to the existing facilities at Tesco or Morrisons.”

If approved, the roadside facility will include eight petrol pumps and three rapid charging points for electric vehicles. The shop will sell a small range of convenience goods and refreshments, and there will be toilets and an ATM machine.

Solar panels will be fitted on the forecourt canopy, there will be landscaping, wildflower areas and a living ‘green roof’ on the shop.

Stirton with Thorlby Parish Council has objected to the plans, citing a threat to wildlife species and habitat.

The parish council says the development will ‘cut through’ a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.

It states: “The proposed development will cut through the existing SINC with a detrimental impact and unacceptable consequences.

“The impact might look unimportant in terms of rare species but its overall impact on the abundance of species and the environment is troubling. If we keep chipping away at supposedly protected sites like this, we’ll soon have nothing left.”

Skipton Civic Society has also objected against the development of local green space and refers to the proposed development as ‘utterly inappropriate development’.

It states: “The local greenspace designation is there to protect undeveloped land from development and we therefore object to the application.

“It does not in our view maintain ‘the spirit’ or intent of the site’s designation. It disturbs and occupies land that is current available to wildlife as a wildlife corridor and wildlife residence, will increase lighting and surfacing in the vicinity, affect drainage and soil with possibilities for pollution, and will affect local townspeople.

It adds: “This land is very prominent and forms a green entrance to the town which is much valued by the local community and by the wildlife that lives there or which uses it.”

The officer’s report to Monday’s planning meeting in however states that the use of the area designated ‘local green space’ is acceptable.

“The site currently comprises a designated Local Green Space where only exceptional development will be permitted Exceptional circumstances include local transport infrastructure. In this case, it is considered that a roadside service petrol, electric charging facility is an example of transport infrastructure, and the development is therefore an exemption within the planning policy.

“The proposed development is considered acceptable in principle and in terms of visual impact, scale and design. The requirements relating to sustainable design and construction are met. Planning approval is recommended.”