Westmorland Family – the company behind the successful Tebay Services – has been backed to create a new service station in Cheshire.
Cheshire East Council’s strategic planning board voted in favour of a new motorway service area at Junctions 7 and 8 of the M56, known as Tatton Services.
The Tatton Services partnership is a joint venture between Westmorland Family, which also runs Gloucester Services on the M5 and Cairn Lodge Services on the M74, and the Tatton Estate.
Westmorland Family said: “Tatton Services vision is to build on the distinctive model that Westmorland operates, which champions local food, craft and community to create a sustainable business which embraces the future of motorway travel.
“The project team, including Pegasus Group, Howells, Planit Landscape Architects BWB and Ramboll amongst others, are proud to be one step further to securing consent for Tatton Services.”
The company said the project was landscape-led and was designed to integrate sensitively with its surroundings, while delivering biodiversity enhancement, sustainable water management features and improved connectivity for cyclist and pedestrians. The buildings have been designed by Howells which designed Gloucester Services.
Sarah Dunning, chair of Westmorland Limited, said: “We’re delighted and are fully committed to building Tatton Services, which will celebrate Cheshire and all that it has to offer. The services will create quality jobs and support local producers and communities alongside meeting the growing needs of electric car drivers. We are grateful for the engagement and support received from local councillors, businesses, residents, and the local community and look forward to bringing our unique model of motorway services to the M56.
“We started our business from our family’s hill farm in Cumbria in 1972. Today we run motorway services, but the way we do it still reflects and celebrates our beginnings.”
As the project is in the green belt, the next stage is for local planning authority to consult the Secretary of State on its proposed decision.
