Co-Op store and homes approved at former Ancaster petrol station

An application to demolish a vacant petrol station at Ancaster and build a Co-Op retail store and 14 houses, has been approved subject to conditions.

A 2,000 square foot Co-Op store with 17 parking spaces will be built on the site of the AC Williams garage, situated between St Martin’s Way and West View, with access from Ermine Street.

The construction of 14 homes on the site was also approved as part of the hybrid application, although the development control committee voted in favour of an amended proposal that two of these homes would be affordable in accordance with a Section 106 agreement.

Catherine Haward of developers Wheatcroft Land, said: “This has been a vacant contaminated site which has stayed empty for over two years.

“There is a current lack of such a local store in Ancaster, and this will create 15 full-time equivalent jobs.”

Residents Darren Elms from West View and John Hopkinson from Ermine Street also spoke during the meeting, and while expressing general approval for the scheme they raised concerns regarding the effect on the levels of the West View unadopted road, and potential parking and pedestrian safety on Ermine Street respectively.