Plans have been submitted to develop two new drive-thru outlets and a petrol station adjacent to the popular White Row Farm Shop and Café in Beckington, Somerset. Situated off Old Warminster Road near the White Row roundabout, this site connects key routes: the A361 between Frome and Trowbridge and the A36 linking Bath and Salisbury.
The proposal comes from a partnership of Warleigh Capital, Spectrum Southern Ltd., and White Row Country Foods Ltd., who seek to build a service area south of the existing farm shop, between the A36 and the current entrance. The new development would include a petrol station at the western end of the site and two drive-thrus at the eastern end—a coffee shop and a drive-thru restaurant—though specific operators have yet to be announced.
Access to the site will be created between the White Row roundabout and the current farm shop entrance. The entire complex will offer 75 parking spaces, complemented by an electric vehicle (EV) charging hub located south of the petrol station to support sustainable transportation needs.
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The plans aim to enhance the experience for visitors to White Row Farm by providing additional amenities, as well as to serve travelers on the A36 and surrounding rural communities. A spokesperson for Savills, representing the applicants, highlighted that the EV charging hub addresses a critical infrastructure gap important for decarbonizing transportation in the area.
If approved, the development is expected to generate up to 45 new jobs, although the breakdown between full- and part-time positions has not been detailed.
Meanwhile, future upgrades are planned for both the Beckington and White Row roundabouts, with funding of up to £4.23 million allocated as part of the Selwood Garden Community project. This larger development will add up to 1,700 new homes at Frome’s southern edge, along with commercial spaces and a new primary school. The Planning Inspectorate will deliver a ruling on the Selwood Garden Community project by early April after a public inquiry scheduled for August 2025.
Somerset Council is anticipated to make a decision on the White Row proposals by early summer. It remains unclear whether the decision will be made publicly by the planning committee—responsible for major applications in the former Mendip area—or by planning officers under delegated powers.