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.
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.”
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.
Get it built! Everything was green land at one point…
By John W
Competitors should not be able to oppose plans of this size. Competition is and always will be a great thing for business.
Look forward to getting it built, posh sausage rolls ahoy!
By Anonymous
The most exciting thing to happen in Cheshire for decades
By Anonymous
Deansgate Square have closed their EV charging stations because nobody uses them
By Anonymous
Is there a requirement for a huge services between Jct 7 & 8 of the M56? As you get on the A5103 at Barlow Moor Road jct, there’s a petrol station/McDonalds if people need to fuel up or use the facilities. Seems like it’ll be a huge services which nobody will use. Either you’re coming into Manchester and you’ll just drive the additional 15 mins to your destination, or you’re leaving Manchester and nobody is going to stop 15 minutes into their journey. Very odd positioning for a major services unless I’m missing something.
By Hamza
Forgot to add to the previous post that if this is approved, then it surely opens up any piece of greenbelt land for development now. No local authority will have a leg to stand on if huge swathes of greenbelt are allowed to be built upon for a private business to make significant sums with zero public interest/benefit.
By Hamza
@Anonymous 11:15 – oh well if nobody uses EV charging in Deansgate Square, lets stop installing them everywhere else in the country. What a silly comment. Obviously a motorway service station is very different from a city centre. Maybe the ones in Deansgate Square are poorly managed, or too expensive compared to alternative locations nearby? Furthermore, do you really think they would be committing to installing them if there wasn’t demand?
By Anonymous
Good idea
By Anonymous
Westmorland are a best-in-class operator and I hope this scheme wins consent. The land is currently enclosed by a busy A-road and the M56 so has no meaningful use at all.
The question is, even with consent, how would Mr Brooks fund the development?
By Jerome Van Der Berg
@Hamza I reckon there is massive benefit to the public from having a new posh services
By Bero
Green belt but in the middle of a motorway junction is hardly green belt really! Can’t see many people using it as a services, but the farm shop will be popular.
By Anonymous
Let’s not kid ourselves. This will be an out of town shopping centre and a destination in its own right.
By Pete
The area is crying out for this project! It’s not just a service area it will be a work of art and bring in much needed local jobs. Tebay have two fantastic services the local area deserves the third.
By bayer328
@Hamza – Plenty of people use the M62/M60 East /M56 to M6. There are no services between Birch on the M62 and Knutsford on this route, or Lymm if you are heading on the M56 to North Wales.
By red rose