PLANS have been submitted to Durham County Council for development work at Stonebridge Service Station, Durham, including the demolition of existing shop and car wash and erection of new multi-purpose building.

The plans, submitted by Motor Fuel Group and Wyeth Project Services, include the construction of a new forecourt shop building to provide improved shop layout, with a food offer and drive thru lane service together with improved jet wash bays, car parking and the provision of new electric vehicle charging points.

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The proposed new service station layout, located on land currently occupied by the existing service station, is bounded by the A690, Nevilles Cross Bank, to the south eastern site boundary with open countryside to the other three site boundaries.

According to a planning statement, Stonebridge Service Station already has an established roadside feel and the proposed forecourt shop extension incorporating an improved shop layout with food offer will combine to form a more coherent motorist’s facility.

The planning statement adds: "The application scheme proposes to provide improved car parking, with a disabled bay, and include the addition of electric vehicle charging facilities.

"The proposed forecourt shop building will be designed to complement and match the existing building architecture. Internally, there will be improved toilets and disabled facilities.

The external appearance of the new replacement building will be composite architectural panels either plain coloured or with a plank appearance.

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The National Planning Policy Framework advises that local planning authorities should regard the construction of new buildings as inappropriate in the Green Belt – but lists a number of exceptions which can be considered as acceptable, including an extension or alteration of a building provided that it does not result in disproportionate additions over and above the size of the original building; or the replacement of a building, providing the new building is in the same use and not materially larger than the one it replaces.

The application site is to be considered in the context of these Green Belt purposes. The site is currently in operation as a petrol filling station including a retail sales area, forecourt canopy, and with a car wash building, together with various other associated elements.

Accordingly, the site is not a traditional Greenfield site, in that it is currently already developed.