BP acquire busy forecourt near Bath with planning already approved
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co has successfully completed on the sale of Bathway Service Station near Bath on behalf of Flying Visit Ltd.
The forecourt is located on a busy roundabout that links the A361 from Trowbridge to Frome and the A36 from Bath to Warminster and benefits from an impressive 27,000 vehicles passing the site each day. There is a Starbucks and a Travelodge next to the forecourt which also increases the number of customers visiting the site and with Frome and the village of Beckington also close by passing trade is particularly high.
The forecourt had an independently branded shop and benefits from strong coffee and valeting sales.
The Directors of Flying Visit Ltd recognised that the site needed to be taken to the next level as the shop was over trading for its size. They applied for planning to demolish and re-build the store, to create a c.3,000 sq ft trading area and introduce a full convenience offer for customers.
Whilst waiting for planning to be approved, the Directors of Flying Visit Ltd instructed David Morris, Associate Director – Retail at Christie & Co’s Bristol office, to run a discreet process to find a potential buyer once the planning was approved.
After a competitive bidding process BP successfully secured the forecourt for an undisclosed sum and they hope to act on the planning soon after completion and will open a BP Simply Food store to include their Wild Bean Café later this year.
The Directors of Flying Visit Ltd commented, “We are really happy that the sale has been completed with BP, and look forward to seeing the end result when the existing site is demolished and re-built.”
A spokesperson for BP added, “We are delighted with the acquisition of Bathway Service Station, continuing our expansion in the South West and aim to re-open the site as soon as we can.”
David Morris of Christie & Co adds, “This is another great forecourt in an excellent location that BP will be adding to their growing estate in the South West. The site offers good potential and captures both a transient and local customer base. It is a credit to the Directors of Flying Visit Ltd, that they identified the site’s potential and put in for planning to optimise the store. We wish them all the best for the future.”
Richard Gorham of Royds Withy King Solicitors, Bath, acted for Flying Visit Ltd ensuring the sale progressed smoothly to completion.
