Inquiry begins today for Tebay-style Cheshire services
Westmorland Group and Tatton Estates will make their case this morning before the Planning Inspectorate, as the government decides whether the Green Belt project’s planning permission from Cheshire East Council can stand.
Tatton Services would boast a 68,000 sq ft main amenity building, filling station, and a 100-bedroom hotel on 39 acres between Junction 7 and Junction 8 of the M56 if built.
There would also be space for around 800 vehicles of all types to park, including 54 equipped with high-power EV charging units and 42 with standard EV charging.
The services would mimic those that the company operates at Tebay off the M6 in Cumbria. Tebay has become a destination in its own right, with around 4.5m visitors coming each year to fuel up, shop, and eat its locally sourced food.
Westmorland and Tatton Estates’ plans for the Tatton Services include numerous sustainability initiatives, including ground-source heat pumps, rain gardens, water gardens, PVs, air-source heat pumps, and water-efficient appliances.
The designs for the amenity building were first submitted to Cheshire East Council in 2022. Credit: via Westmorland Group
Cheshire East had voted to approve the application last October, despite 150 objections. Chief issues had been the Green Belt status of the land proposed for the services, impact on the countryside, increase in light and air pollution, impact on nearby towns, and forecasted traffic increase.
Former secretary of state Michael Gove called in the application in May. Stop Trafford Services, a group of residents in Trafford, are among the groups objecting to the proposal during the appeal process, as is rival services company Moto Hospitality.
Trafford Council, whose borders are near to the site, was also one of the objectors but has since changed its position. This happened after the authority agreed to a series of conditions regarding the travel plan, off-site pedestrian improvements, landscaping details, and restrictions on the amount of retail space with the developer.
A spokesperson for Westmorland Group reiterated the company’s commitment to the application.
“Tatton Services is an amazing project and first and foremost we would like to thank everyone who has supported this exciting proposal,” they said.
“We remain steadfastly committed to the project and will continue to make the case to the secretary of state so people can benefit from the vital road safety improvements this project will secure, as well as local jobs and wider benefits for the local economy in a sustainable and well-designed manner.”
The spokesperson’s statement continued: “Delivering the unique Westmorland Family model, Tatton Services is a truly sustainable response to addressing gaps in Motorway Service Area provision that pass the M56 in this location.
“The proposed model will champion the farms and businesses who make local food and will create jobs and apprentice schemes for local people.
“We continue to work with many others to raise awareness of the huge benefits this project will bring locally.”
There were two rounds of consultation for the Tatton Services project. Credit: via Westmorland Group
Pegasus Group is the planner for the project and guiding Westmorland and Tatton Estate through the appeal process. The project team for the services also includes architect Glenn Howells Architects, landscape architect Planit, project manager FWP, and sustainable strategist Ramboll.
Rounding out the team are Ecology Solutions, Jensen Hughes, Lightpad, BWB Consulting, and Les Postawa Associates.
You can see the application and subsequent appeal documents by searching reference number 22/0872M on Cheshire East Council’s planning portal. The case number for the inquiry on the Planning Inspectorate’s portal is 3345318.
