EG Group seeks to boost retail space at South Tyneside petrol station

Proposals to boost retail space at a petrol filling station in South Tyneside have been submitted to council planning chiefs.

South Tyneside Council’s planning department recently registered an application for St Matthews Service Station, off York Avenue, in the Jarrow area.

This included works to extend the existing kiosk building.

A supporting statement, prepared on behalf of applicant EG Group, sets out the reasons for the proposed works.

The statement reads: “[Petrol filling stations] can no longer operate as a viable business selling fuel alone.

“As such, an ancillary range of goods and services that augment the sale of fuel is critical in order to ensure that the site, as a whole, can be profitable.

“Since the construction of the kiosk building by EG Group Ltd, there has been a gradual realisation that fuel sales needed to be supported further by ancillary goods/services.

“This has not been possible through the internal re-configuration of the store.

“In light of this, EG Group Ltd have deemed it necessary to seek permission for a small extension to the GIA [gross internal area]”.

The existing kiosk building hosts a Spar convenience store as well as a small Subway and Greggs concession.

According to planning documents, the proposed extension would continue the form and height of the existing building and would cover a gross internal area of 116 square metres.

EG Group adds that an “increase in the sale of ancillary goods is important in ensuring the continued viability” of the petrol filling station.

A decision on the extension will be made following a period of council consultation.