Garage expansion plans gain local support

Plans are for extending the shop, creating a cafe, new vehicle repair workshop, MOT bays and replacement of the house at Totnes Cross Garage.

Plans submitted to South Hams District Council to extend the facilities at Totnes Cross Garage have so far met with unanimous support, attracting 55 letters of agreement on the planning portal. 

The plans would see the "conversion and extension of shop and commercial premises to create enlarged retail area and cafe, new vehicle repair workshop and MOT bays, replacement house and associated access and parking at Totnes Cross Garage, Halwell" according to the paperwork submitted by Martin Cox, architectural and building consultant, on behalf of the site owner Mr J Holliss. 

The entire project would include the re-location of the vehicle repair garage, MOT bays, vehicle parts and accessories together with offices into a purpose built unit, with associated staff and customer parking. The existing convenience store will be extended and the petrol forecourt will retain the current ten dispensers.

The design and access statement submitted to SHDC says: "The garage is a well known landmark and is often used as a stop-off or meeting point for holidaymakers coming into the area. The plans incorporate an area to extend the existing very popular hot food sales."

A new entrance and parking and delivery area will be created off Dartmouth Road to serve the new garage facilities, shop and house. This will alleviate parking pressure on the small forecourt area and will include landscaping to mitigate the development changes. 

The D&A statement continued: "Totnes Cross Garage has been a family run business for 44 years. The owner has already invested significant capital to make improvements which have resulted in a successful business. In 2014 the repair garage was overhauled with state of the art equipment and a new workshop, ramps and MOT bay.

"Customers come from the immediate area and the wider local South Hams rural areas and from the immense passing trade from the tourism industry as the next nearest garage facilities are in Totnes and Dartmouth. The shop is used by many Halwell residents and other locals as the nearest shops are also in those main centres.

"The business currently employs a total of 10 full time and 5 part time staff, all who live in the local area.

"Both the shop and repair garage are consistently over-subscribed and there is an obvious local need for expansion of the facilities. This proposal is for a rationalisation and expansion to a standard that will create a modern local facility and a commercial business that has viability into the future."

The proposal has also gained the support of Halwell Parish Council as of September 2019. 

You can view and comment on the application by following this link: southhams.gov.uk/PlanningSearchMVC or by visiting the South Hams District Council planning portal on their website and searching for application number: 2334/19/FUL

Main image: The current Totnes Cross Garage - Google Maps

Secondary image: the proposed expansion site for Totnes Cross Garage - Design and Access Statement for planning application number 2334/19/FUL