Plans approved for new Applegreen service station off Galway M6 including drive-thru and playground
The expansion of an existing Applegreen service station in Ballinasloe, just off the M6 motorway, has been approved by Galway County Council.
Planning permission was granted on June 30 for a new Applegreen facility featuring EV charging stations, fuel pumps and retail space.
Petrogas Group Ltd applied for permissions on two combined sites on September 11, 2025. One holds an existing small Applegreen station, and the other is a neighbouring 3.98-hectare undeveloped field.
Rendering of the truck parking area.
NorthEast side of the development from the road.
The existing station will be demolished and expanded into the field area located beside Junction 15 and the Garbally Roundabout.
The 3.98 hectare site is currently a large undeveloped field with no direct access. Entry will be provided via the roundabout.
The development will include more than 35 EV charging points, eight vehicle fuel pumps and two HGV fuel pumps. The retail element will feature two food outlets, including one drive-through unit, along with a coffee and food preparation area. Indoor and outdoor seating will also be provided.
Plans also include two outdoor picnic areas, a playground and a driver exercise area. More than 100 parking spaces are proposed for cars, staff, bicycles, coaches and HGVs.
Planning documents reference the Applegreen service area in Enfield, Co Meath off of the M4, as a model for the layout of the new facility.
A Town Centre Impact Assessment concluded the service station would primarily serve motorists travelling on the M6 rather than local residents. It estimated the retail component would generate between €60,000 and €120,000 in annual turnover and found the development would not have an adverse impact on Ballinasloe town centre.
Seven submissions were received from local residents, raising concerns about the scale of the project, as well as potential increases in traffic, noise and anti-social behaviour, particularly during late-night hours.
The impact on traffic at the already busy Garbally Roundabout was also a recurring concern.
Clonfert College also lodged an objection, citing traffic concerns and the heavy use of the roundabout during school commuting hours. The school argued that the Traffic Impact Assessment was carried out when student and staff numbers were lower than normal, meaning that “two-thirds of the school-related traffic would not have been counted”.
The submission questioned whether the assessment accurately reflected peak-time traffic conditions.
Galway County Council granted permission subject to 15 conditions.
One condition requires the submission of a detailed design report for R446, which feeds into the Garbally roundabout, for pedestrian and traffic safety prior to construction.