Plans to extend and refurbish a petrol station shop and make alterations to the forecourt and existing hand car wash have been approved by the council.

Mr R. Patel lodged plans with Pendle Council at the end of September in respect of a filling station in Colne Road, Brierfield.

Mr Patel, of GM Petroleum Ltd, Rochdale, also wanted to build two jet wash bays at the Jet station, with the aim of modernising and upgrading the site, as well as creating four more jobs within the shop.

A design and access statement submitted alongside the application read: “The proposal consists of the extension of the existing shop, demolition of existing hand car wash, alterations to pump islands, raising the canopy and relocation of the PID sign.

“The proposed shop consists of an office and store area, new external render, new shop front and roof alterations.

“The proposed development aims at providing valuable and modern roadside facilities to residents and visitors.”

Under the plans, access to the station will remain largely untouched and HGV/delivery tank access into the site has been proposed via the general access, to facilitate safe manoeuvring.

The entrance to the shop shall be designed to have a ramped path with dedicated parking close to the door, and the design shall also aim to achieve a visible contrast between the path and forecourt to make them easily distinguishable. A disabled toilet will also be provided.

The design and access statement went on: “There will be no demonstrable harm to neighbouring amenities, visual amenities, or highway safety.

“In addition, the proposed development will result in significant planning benefits in terms of job creation, visual amenity, enhanced and modern roadside facilities for motorists with improvement to operational efficiency and traffic circulation of the site.”

Amended plans were lodged in December and then again in February in respect of site elevations and drainage layout, and a noise assessment was also carried out which maintained that the jet wash should only operate within the daytime and not 24 hours like the garage.

Pendle Council approved the plans on May 9.