Petrol pumps to go as M&S plans St Martin’s retail expansion
St Martin’s Marks & Spencer could be getting much bigger, moving into the space currently occupied by petrol pumps.
A planning application has been made, outlining how the existing building would be modernised, as well as expanded out to the western corner of the site.
The existing petrol station canopy would be removed and the space used for a larger retail area. The owners said that the fuel forecourt was no longer financially viable.
‘The specialist equipment is old and expensive to repair and ultimately replace.
‘This is against a backdrop of decreased litreage being sold due to decreasing demand, which is only set to continue with more fuel-efficient vehicles, alternative fuels and strategies to reduce car usage in favour of other modes of transport.
‘The current demand can be serviced via other forecourts in the proximity. Hence, there is a need to decommission and re-purpose this section of the site.’
The current shop is 372sq. m. Under the plans the existing petrol station kiosk of 133sq. m would be incorporated into the store. A new retail section would be built on the site of the petrol station, adding another 128sq. m. This would make the retail space about 70% bigger.
The existing building was originally a car showroom built in the 1970s.
The former Ruette Braye Garage was converted into Creasey’s second M&S Simply Food branch nearly 20 years ago. This scheme would propose modernising the structure to make it more efficient.
Outdated and inefficient refrigeration would also be replaced with state-of-the-art systems. The eastern tail of the building would be kept for food storage, with the building at the end converted into a dry store, subject to planning permission.
That area is currently industrial, with a workshop and showroom.
There are currently fewer than 40 marked spaces to the rear of the site and a gravel overspill car park.
This scheme would see more order brought to the parking, with more tarmac laid and 95 marked spaces created.
The look of the business would also change, with the partial rebuild of the existing structure providing a chance to enhance the overall appearance of the building.
It is proposed that there be two timber-clad gables, with a square timber-clad sign in between them.
While the application comes from West Quay Holdings, this is a subsidiary of Creasey and Son Ltd, which operates the M&S franchise in Guernsey.
The petrol station currently sells petrol just below the average price, for 161.5p per litre of unleaded.
Fuel is available just around the corner on Grande Rue at St Martin’s Garage and Co-op petrol stations.
