Guiseley Morrisons Petrol Station Seeks 24/7 Hours Approval

Key Points

• An application has been submitted to Leeds City Council to extend the operating hours of Morrisons Petrol Filling Station on New Road in Guiseley to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• The current opening hours are 6am to 11pm daily.
• If approved, the shop and fuel pumps would operate 24/7, but air/vacuum facilities, jet wash, and customer parking on the western boundary with Henry Terrace would remain restricted to 7am to 11pm.
• The planning statement supporting the application emphasises continued access to fuel, protection of residential amenities through operational controls, and benefits for emergency vehicles, shift workers, delivery drivers, and late-night motorists.
• Extended hours aim to improve convenience, support local employment, and enhance the site’s long-term viability, aligning with other successful 24-hour petrol stations.
• The petrol station is located in a residential area, prompting a Noise Impact Assessment by Infinity Acoustics, which confirms compliance with standards and no unacceptable disturbance.
• Night-time operations would limit activity to the forward-most dispensing pump only, with no other forecourt facilities available overnight.
• Fuel deliveries, refuse collections, and servicing activities would be banned during night-time hours, restricted instead to daytime and early evening periods in line with existing planning conditions.

Guiseley, Leeds City Council (Guiseley Gazette) 15 January 2026 – Plans to transform Morrisons Petrol Filling Station on New Road into a round-the-clock operation have been lodged with Leeds City Council, seeking approval to extend hours from the current 6am to 11pm to full 24/7 access for fuel pumps and the shop.

The proposal, detailed in a comprehensive planning statement, balances public convenience with safeguards for nearby residents. If granted, it would mark a significant upgrade in local fuel availability while imposing strict limits on ancillary services.

What Does the Application Propose?

The application targets a variation in operating hours for the Morrisons Petrol Filling Station situated on New Road in Guiseley, a residential suburb of Leeds. As outlined in the planning documents submitted to Leeds City Council, the core change would permit the fuel pumps and attached shop to function 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Currently, the site operates from 6am to 11pm, a restriction the applicants seek to lift entirely for these primary elements.

However, not all facilities would follow suit. The planning statement specifies that air/vacuum services, jet wash, and customer parking along the western boundary adjacent to Henry Terrace would retain daytime-only access, from 7am to 11pm. This tiered approach, as detailed in the submission, aims to mitigate potential disruptions in a densely populated area.

“The proposal enables continued access to fuel while ensuring that residential amenities are protected through appropriate operational controls,”

states the planning statement verbatim, underscoring the measured nature of the request.

Why Extend Hours to 24/7 Operations?

Proponents argue the extension addresses a clear community need, particularly for those travelling outside standard hours. The planning statement highlights benefits for emergency vehicles requiring urgent refuelling, shift workers on late or early schedules, delivery drivers maintaining supply chains, and motorists on long journeys.

“The proposed extended hours will provide an essential service for emergency vehicles, shift workers, delivery drivers and motorists travelling outside standard hours,”

it declares.

Furthermore, the document positions the change as economically advantageous. It claims the variation “will improve convenience, support local employment and enhance the long-term viability of the site, consistent with similar petrol filling stations operating successfully on a 24-hour basis.” This rationale draws parallels to other UK sites thriving under nonstop models, suggesting Guiseley’s Morrisons could follow suit without compromising standards.

How Will Residential Concerns Be Addressed?

Guiseley’s residential setting has necessitated robust environmental protections, with a Noise Impact Assessment prepared by Infinity Acoustics submitted alongside the application. The applicant asserts this report “demonstrates full compliance with relevant standards and confirms that the development should not give rise to unacceptable disturbance.” Key measures include confining night-time activity to the forward-most dispensing pump, ensuring no other forecourt facilities operate overnight.

The planning statement reinforces these controls:

“To safeguard residential amenity, it is confirmed that only the forward most dispensing pump will be operational during the night time period and no other facilities will be available on the forecourt.”

Additional prohibitions target noise-intensive tasks, stating,

“No fuel deliveries, refuse collections or servicing activities will take place during night time hours. All deliveries and servicing will be restricted to daytime and early evening periods only, in accordance with planning condition.”

What Is the Current Status of the Site?

Morrisons Petrol Filling Station on New Road currently serves Guiseley under limited hours, from 6am to 11pm daily. This setup, while functional, leaves a gap for overnight users, a shortfall the application directly tackles. The site’s proximity to housing, including along Henry Terrace, has shaped the proposal’s conservative stance on parking and services, preserving quieter evenings.

Leeds City Council has yet to issue a decision, but the application’s emphasis on compliance with existing conditions positions it favourably. The planning statement integrates seamlessly with prior permissions, framing the request as an evolution rather than overhaul.

Who Supports the Proposal and Why?

The application originates from representatives of the Morrisons site, though specific named applicants remain undisclosed in public documents. Infinity Acoustics, the firm behind the Noise Impact Assessment, lends technical credibility, affirming no adverse noise impacts. Their analysis, as quoted by the applicant, meets all regulatory benchmarks, bolstering the case for approval.

Local economic arguments further underpin support. By sustaining jobs and site viability, the plan aligns with broader retail trends where 24-hour fuel access proves indispensable. The planning statement captures this succinctly: “The variation will improve convenience, support local employment and enhance the long-term viability of the site.”

What Happens If the Application Succeeds?

Approval would usher in nonstop fuel availability, a boon for Guiseley’s night-time economy and travellers on the A65 corridor. Pumps and shop operations would run uninterrupted, while restricted services maintain residential peace. Emergency services gain reliable access, and shift patterns benefit from flexible refuelling.

Employment stability follows, as extended trade sustains staffing needs. The site’s longevity strengthens, mirroring national precedents of 24-hour forecourts thriving amid 24/7 lifestyles.

What Are the Potential Objections?

Neighbours may raise noise or traffic worries, given the residential locale. However, the application’s preemptive controls—single-pump night use, banned deliveries—counter such fears. Infinity Acoustics’ assessment explicitly rules out disturbance, aligning with council noise policies.

Public consultation forms part of Leeds City Council’s process, inviting resident input. No objections have surfaced publicly yet, but the proposal’s detail aims to preempt them.

How Does This Fit Broader Trends?

Across the UK, petrol stations increasingly adopt 24/7 models to meet evolving demands. Guiseley’s bid reflects this, prioritising fuel as an essential service. The planning statement nods to “similar petrol filling stations operating successfully on a 24-hour basis,” citing viability gains.

In Leeds, where suburban sites balance commerce and community, such extensions test planning equilibria. Success here could inspire peers, standardising overnight access without amenity erosion.

What Is the Planning Process Timeline?

Leeds City Council typically validates applications within weeks, followed by neighbour notifications and eight-week determination periods. Valid objections can extend scrutiny, potentially to committee review. The application’s supporting evidence, including acoustics, expedites technical approval.

Applicants anticipate a decision by spring 2026, aligning with council cadences. Residents track progress via the council’s planning portal.

Why Is Guiseley a Key Location?

Guiseley, nestled in Wharfedale, serves commuters and locals via New Road’s strategic spot. Morrisons anchors daily needs, and 24/7 fuel enhances resilience. Residential density demands sensitivity, which the proposal addresses meticulously.