roadside services

Appeal Success for Dynamic Transport Planning on the A14

Dynamic Transport Planning have successfully supported a planning appeal for the development of a new Roadside Service Area off the A14 between Elmswell and Woolpit, Suffolk.  The development has now been granted planning approval following the decision by the Planning Inspectorate to uphold the appeal by EG Group Ltd against the decision of Mid-Suffolk Council.

The refusal of permission by the planning authority was based on a single reason, related to highways matters, and DTP provided expert witness evidence in support of the appeal.  A part-award of costs was also awarded to the appellant in relation to the appeal.

DTP had been appointed to assist with the proposals for the site, picking up from an earlier refusal for a similar development, and whilst the application had received a recommendation for approval by planning officers, and also had the support of the Local Highway Authority and National Highways, the scheme had been refused by the planning committee.

In support of the planning appeal DTP were able to successfully respond third-party comments provide on behalf of the planning authority, while also retaining the support of the LHA and National Highways, with the appeal including the agreement of a unilateral undertaking to provide non-car access improvements. 

Gavin Snowball, Director at DTP, said “I am very pleased to see a positive outcome for this development.  This is a site that is well located at an existing trunk road junction to provide amenity and associated safety benefits for passing motorists on this section of the strategic highway network.”

Alex Kenwright, Development Director at EG Group Ltd said “we are delighted to finally receive planning consent for this site after a number of years and now look forward to delivering the scheme.  I would like to thank Gavin and the team at DTP for their invaluable expertise & support in achieving a positive outcome for this site.  DTP were key to unlocking this tricky site.”

The planning team for the appeal included Montagu Evans as planning agent and ADS Design as scheme architects.

5 Food-to-go Brands to watch out for in UK during 2021

Fed up of having the same choice when you are on the road? It does seem like the same brands are everywhere now, so it was only a matter of time before the biggest roadside operators and brands realised we needed something new to keep us interested. We have picked out five brands that are arriving and/or growing in the UK with big plans for 2021.

Leon

A brand we are getting used to seeing on high streets and railway stations is making their way to service stations across the country. Two counters have opened around the M25 with further openings planning including Leeds and Cobham. The offerings are great for those looking for a healthier option, seeking out vegan food or craving a fish finger wrap (yes they do those!).

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Sbarro

Has anybody else been craving some ‘real’ New York Pizza in the UK? Well EG Group have partnered with Sbarro to bring their version of NY pizza to the UK. Already building a name in Ireland, the first counter in UK opened in Birmingham with more being rolled out across the country including at Frontier Park, Blackburn. This should hopefully help to fill the gap in the market for slices of pizza and an alternative to the deeper pan Greggs pizza slice at service stations.

Cinnabon

Possibly the most famous American brand not to have expanded outside of London tourist places, EG Group are again bringing this well known brand to the rest of the UK with 150 planned openings in their roadside offerings up and down the country.

NKD Pizza

NKD Pizza might be known to those in Burnley or Edinburgh but it hasn’t yet made a name for itself across the country. EG seem to have their eye on the pizza game, partnering with NKD Pizza to trial the new concept ‘Slices by NKD Pizza’ to a couple of their outlets. We guess time will tell who takes the lead in the EG Pizza race and we can’t help wondering what the head of pizza brands chooses for their lunch at the new EG headquarters….

Tim Hortons

You may have been living under a rock, or at least away from Facebook, if you event noticed that adverts for Tim Horton drive-thru popping up, especially in the north of the UK and Scotland. They franchisee has taken an aggressive growth campaign, one which may have paid huge dividends given the reliance of the UK on drive-thru over the past 12 months. Their last directive was to ‘open in every major city and town in the UK by 2022’ and create over 2000 jobs. We haven’t had one pop up in County Durham yet tho….. just pointing that out.

So will the market be shaken up with new arrivals in 2021 and beyond? There’s been a rumoured Denny’f for years that has never materialised. The Cheesecake Factory made it to Dubai but never UK. Will we continue to invite major brands over or will operators start creating spaces for local independent brands? Anything really could happen as we get through the vaccination programme and hopefully start to live life more freely again.

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