Planning permission has been granted for significant upgrades to the Morrisons fuel station in Illingworth, West Yorkshire, as part of a wider £2.5 billion deal involving the Motor Fuel Group (MFG). The approval, issued by Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council earlier this month, includes the removal and replacement of existing jet washes, changes to the forecourt canopy, and a single-storey extension to the filling station’s shop.
Details of the Approved Upgrades
According to the Forecourt Trader website, the shop extension will create a new separate food-to-go outlet, occupying space currently used by the jet washes, which will be relocated across the forecourt. The approved plans also include four new parking spaces, new parcel lockers, and a new outdoor launderette. These changes are part of a broader project by MFG, which announced in 2024 its acquisition of 337 Morrisons forecourts—including kiosks and ancillary services such as car washes—as part of a £2.5 billion deal. Under the agreement, Morrisons will take a minority stake in MFG.
Additional Applications and Market Context
MFG has also submitted a planning application for another nearby Morrisons forecourt in Elland. The upgrades come as Morrisons reported a slowdown in sales growth for the latest quarter. On Wednesday, the supermarket group revealed that total sales grew by 1.7% to £4 billion over the 13 weeks to April 26, compared with a 2.6% increase in the previous quarter. Like-for-like sales growth slowed to 2.2% from 2.8% in the prior quarter. Despite the slowdown, boss Rami Baitieh said he was “pleased” by the latest performance and highlighted an “encouraging start” to the third quarter, with hopes that sales will be boosted by the World Cup and Father’s Day.
