A plan to demolish a picnic site and café off the A35 near Bridport and replace it with a road maintenance depot has been unveiled.

A planning application has been submitted by National Highways to turn the site, at the Eype turning, into an operational base for maintenance from 2026 - when its current maintenance contract with Balfour Beatty ends.

Currently, the site includes a rest area, café and public toilets. All of these will be removed or demolished under the plan.

Plans include the demolition and removal of existing buildings and structures and the construction of a new highway depot, including a single-storey office building, a 3,000-tonne 'salt barn', and garages with associated parking and landscaping.

Salt barns are used to store salt for the winter months when it's used to grit roads.

The site as it is now (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

The proposed siteThe proposed site (Image: National Highways)

The area is one of the few rest stops next to the A35 in Dorset and is particularly busy in the summer.

The site has always been owned by National Highways, which says in its planning application will generate 15 jobs at the site.

Under the current arrangement with Balfour Beatty, National Highways does not have a depot on the A35 and says that, in terms of route resilience and safety, 'it is essential for the company to facilitate a suitable site close to the route, which allows for rapid deployment, particularly during adverse weather events.' 

The proposed depot will support gritting and maintenance services to the surrounding road network, primarily the A35.

Jonathan Hill, National Highways’  route manager for the A35, said: “We’re looking to enhance our essential winter maintenance and inspections of the A35 and have identified the site for a new depot on our land near Bridport.

“We’re currently engaging with those who will be affected by the proposed change of use at the Eype rest area and will continue liaising with these parties throughout the planning process for a depot comprising a salt store and vehicle storage."

The planning application has been submitted to Dorset Council.  

As a consultee, Bridport Town Council's planning committee will be invited to consider the proposals - the town council can then object or support the application but it will be up to Dorset Council to approve or refuse it. 

Members of the public may leave comments on the proposal here: https://planning.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/plandisp.aspx?recno=410290&fbclid=IwY2xjawG7x9xleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbHUWc46uROUG7WmUnTO_jk0NyFtJGDYBGPeFQHHQLr9bmMm1MRxP-i3KA_aem_GCuqeYej_o_g44zoADqKJw