Bid to redevelop Murco, in Church Street, Woolpit, approved by Mid Suffolk District Council

Fresh plans to redevelop a village fuel station and replace its 40-year-old underground tanks have been approved.

Mr K Vinayakam, for WSS Retail Ltd, had his proposals to revamp the Murco Filling Garage, in Church Street, Woolpit, near Bury St Edmunds, approved by Mid Suffolk District Council yesterday.

The existing tanks would be replaced and a new 60,000 litre unit, used for both unleaded and super unleaded petrol, would be installed, while the pumps would be upgraded with a Stage II vapour recovery system.

Woolpit Parish Council gave no response to the plans.

One public objection – citing issues with building work, noise, odours and a loss of privacy among other factors – was submitted.

Commenting on residential amenity, planners said the station is in lawful use and, once installed, the tanks would not be visible and not have any other impact on neighbour amenity than it does now.

The plans came after a previous application to refurb the site was rejected in October due to environmental concerns.

The council’s environmental health team and the Environment Agency gave no comments to the plans.

Planners said the underground tanks would be more suitable than above ground equivalents and the plans were acceptable with respect to land contamination.

Currently, the station has four pump islands – each of which have two dispensing bays – which are served by four underground tanks that have a capacity of 13,200 litres.

These four would be replaced by one tank solely for diesel use in the same location, while the new 60,000 litre petrol tank would be installed underground to the east of the site.

The petrol tank would be subdivided into 40,000/20,000 for unleaded and super unleaded respectively.

The tank and fuel pump upgrades would mean the overall capacity of the site would increase, while all dispensing bays at the site would stock all three grades of fuel.

Currently, regular unleaded is only available on the right side pumps, while on the left side it is super unleaded. All bays have diesel.

It is hoped the upgrade of the pumps with the vapour recovery system will make the site more environmentally friendly.

The garage has been in use as a service station since 2013.