A HEALTHY fast food chain could be set to open a new drive-thru restaurant at a service station in Wrexham.

Proposals have been put forward which show a branch of the Leon restaurant could be created at the Holt Road services, near Wrexham Golf Club.

It follows the company being bought out by petrol station business EG Group in April this year as part of a deal believed to be worth up to £100m.

An application by the Blackburn-based group, owned by the billionaire Issa brothers, also outlines plans for a drive-thru coffee shop.

The name of the firm which would take on the unit has yet to be named, although EG Group currently operates 142 Starbucks coffee outlets across the UK.

In a planning statement, consultants acting on the company’s behalf said the proposed development would deliver a number of economic benefits,

including the creation of up to 50 new jobs.

They said: “The application site is located immediately adjacent to a petrol filling which is operated by EG Group.

“It is the intention of the company to provide a comprehensive roadside service of modern standards and expectations at the site via the introduction of two drive thrus.

“EG Group are committed to a significant investment in order to improve the site, subject to receipt of a satisfactory planning permission.

“The proposal is therefore not speculative and should planning permission be granted then it is anticipated that the scheme could be delivered immediately upon receipt of planning permission and discharge of pre-commencement conditions.

“The proposed development will result in a significant improvement in respect of the service offered from it for which there is an identified need.”

The service station was first opened in July last year to serve Wrexham Industrial Estate and includes a Shell petrol station, Sainsbury’s “On the Go” store and a Greggs bakery.

Detailed plans for the facility were approved by councillors in April 2019 after road safety concerns raised by councillors were addressed by new road markings and changes to the layout of the Holt Road roundabout.

In relation to the impact on traffic, the latest application states: “Although the proposed development is likely to generate a relatively low level of new trips, a capacity assessment of the adjacent roundabout has been undertaken in order to provide a comprehensive assessment.

“The assessments show that with the application of development related traffic, the roundabout will continue to operate within capacity during the 2021 and 2026 assessment year scenarios.

“The model results therefore suggest that traffic associated with the proposed development would not have a material impact on the operation of the A5156/A534/Holt Road/Services roundabout.”

A total of 50 parking spaces would be created to serve the two drive-thru facilities.

The proposals will be considered by Wrexham Council at a later date.