PLANS for a petrol station and forecourt shop on land near Old Malton have been approved by planners.

The application, by Commercial Development Projects Ltd, for land off Eden House Road, includes three fuel pumps and two HGV fuel pump islands, air bay, customer parking and landscaping.

The forecourt shop will contain a small cafe and sell goods aimed at the travelling motorist.

A report to Ryedale District Council’s planning committee said: “The application site is located immediately to the north of Eden House Road, adjacent to the recently constructed roundabout on the A169. The site abuts the south western side of the roundabout and is bounded by the A169 to the east, recently constructed industrial units to the west and the industrial estate link road and undeveloped parcels of land to the north. In total the site amounts to around 0.73 hectares in area.

“The proposal occupies a site which in part had been identified for employment uses, both through the development plan and the grant of an earlier planning permission.

“Whilst the proposal has been put forward to address a perceived lack of roadside facilities on the A64, it is also the case that the development will generate 20 jobs on completion.”

The report added that consultations had been taken place with Highways England and North Yorkshire County Council Highways, who had raised no objections, subject to conditions on the site layout and parking.

However, concerns were raised by two neighbouring parties over the outlet being used for fast food, worries about litter, possible pollution and concerns over drainage.

Cllr Paul Emberley, mayor of Malton, said: “We welcome this application. Not only is it ideally suited to assist the future needs of the business park, but our rapidly growing community needs more fuelling points to help keep prices competitive and to boost Malton’s visitor economy. Above all, it should also have a positive benefit of driving more HGV traffic around the A64 Malton bypass, rather than clogging the narrow streets of our town, thereby improving air quality and road safety.”

Cllr Keane Duncan, leader of RDC, said: “A new petrol station at Eden Business Park would provide easy access from Malton, Norton and the A64. It would also be a welcome boost to the park that could catalyse further developments there. Ryedale continues to be ‘open for business’ and open to responsible economic growth.”