Work starts on £65m Tatton Services

Westmorland Farmshow & Co’s anticipated Tebay-style motorway services area between Junction 7 and Junction 8 of the M56 is on track to open in spring 2028.

The announcement that works has begun follows the securing of a partial funding deal from HSBC to support the £65m construction effort.

Westmorland is leading on the delivery of Tatton Services as the majority shareholder in an 80-20 joint venture with Tatton Estate.

Westmorland is behind the acclaimed Tebay Services and Gloucester Services, and hopes to replicate their success in Cheshire.

Like its predecessors, Tatton Services will include a farm shop and food hall. These are due to reside in a 68,000 sq ft amenity building on the 39-acre site between Millington and Rostherne.

The Glenn Howells Architects-designed proposals also include a 100-bed hotel and a filling station – the lone outpost where fossil fuels will be consumed. The rest of the services will operate on renewable energy.

There are 40 EV charging bays proposed for the service station, with plans to grow that number.

The scheme is forecast to turnover £36m a year and welcome 4m customers.

Westmorland chair Sarah Dunning said: “We’re very excited to bring our proper food offer and ethos to Cheshire. From day one, this is about creating something rooted in the local landscape and community. We have committed to working with at least 70 producers within 30 miles of the site — and we hope that number will grow as relationships flourish.

“We’re also creating over 400 skilled jobs for local people, alongside apprenticeships and training programmes designed to build meaningful, long-term careers in the food industry. Our ambition is not only to serve travellers but to create opportunities and lasting value for the communities around us.”

The project team includes Eric Wright Construction, project manager Mott MacDonald, and groundworks contractor A.E. Yates.

The planning team for the scheme included Pegasus Group, FWP, Planit, Ramboll, Ecology Solutions, Jensen Hughes, Lightpad, BWB, and Les Postawa.

Pete Crowther, Tatton Estate chief executive, said: “This unique sustainable motorway service area is exactly the sort of high-quality development the Tatton Estate is proud to partner with — combining a strong family-run ethos with excellent architecture, landscaping and environmental credentials.

“Tatton Services will bring lasting benefits to local businesses and the wider community, creating jobs and supporting the regional economy.”

Cheshire East Council approved plans for the motorway service station in October 2023 but the application was called in by then-secretary of state Michael Gove due to its Green Belt status and pressure form a local campaign group.

Planning inspector David Rose concluded that “the site meets the definition of grey belt” and approved the development in March 2025.

The plans can be viewed on Cheshire East’s planning portal with the reference 22/0872M.