Firm seeks planning to build service station on motorway in north Cork

One of the country’s leading providers of motorway services has applied for planning permission to build a major service station in north Cork, on the M8.

Applegreen, part of the Petrogas Group, has lodged planning permission with Cork County Council for the proposed development, near Mitchelstown.

The Cork-Dublin route links up with the M7 in Co Laois.

The company plans to build pumps, toilets, four restaurants, including takeaways, along with indoor and outdoor play areas at a site connecting to junction 13, near Brigown.

Applegreen is also hoping to receive permission to build a car park capable of holding 71 cars, 12 lorries, and three coaches on site.

A spokeswoman for Applegreen confirmed the wholly Irish-owned firm had lodged an application. The company opened its first service station in 2002 and now has 70, employing around 1,110 people

She declined to comment on how much the development would cost or when the company would hope to start construction, if given approval. Applegreen has two motorway service stations at three locations: Lusk, Co Dublin; Castlebellingham, Co Louth; and Enfield, Co Meath.

The proposed site is about 56km north of Cork City.

It is the second planning application for a motorway service station to be received by the local authority for the M8 in the past few weeks.

The other, lodged by JR Oronco Ltd, is much closer to Cork, being proposed for junction 14, just north of Fermoy.

Local businessmen Richie O’Flynn and Jimmy Hanlon propose to spend €5m developing a convenience shop and deli, a drive-thru restaurant, showers, toilets, playground, and picnic area on a 4.6-acre site near Moorepark.

Mr O’Regan said that, if granted approval, their service station would employ between 70 and 100 people full-time. The proposal also incorporates a car wash, fast charging points for electric cars, and parking spaces for 104 cars, 14 trucks, and two coaches.