Industrial estate and drive-thru plans for Preston
It's part of plans to build an industrial estate
Last updated 21st Jan 2026
Two new drive-thru eateries could spring up alongside the M6, on the outskirts of Preston, as part of plans to build an industrial estate.
The development has been proposed for farmland next to the southbound carriageway of the motorway at junction 31A.
Documents submitted to Preston City Council reveal that the firm behind the blueprint for the site has had “interest from potential tenants” of the drive-thru units – but no further clues are offered as to which brands might ultimately occupy them.
The application – from Monte Blackburn Limited – goes on to state that the facilities are “intended to serve the needs of the motorist on the M6” and those of workers at, and visitors to, the wider employment development within which they would sit. It adds that they would complement the existing petrol station, just yards away from the earmarked plot.
McDonald’s was last week granted permission for a drive-thru restaurant around a mile further south, just off junction 31, close to the Tickled Trout Hotel.
The planning class use class proposed for the drive-thru outlets at junction 31A permits them to be used for the sale of hot food.
The overarching proposal – which is largely in outline form – seeks permission for the creation of an ”employment park”, with six units that could be used either for “general industrial” purposes or storage and distribution – and would come with parking areas for cars and HGVs. The vision first came to light last March when the city council ruled that an environmental impact assessment would be required as part of the planning process.
Access to the development would be taken from the Bluebell Way roundabout that leads to the petrol station and James Hall & Co Ltd. Spar distribution centre beyond it.
The scheme would deliver one larger and two medium-sized buildings, along with a smaller terrace of three units in response to “to anticipated market demand”.
Junction 31A – turn-off for Preston East and Longridge – is restricted, in that it has no southbound exit nor northbound entry slip roads.
As the Local Democracy Reporting Service previously revealed, roads authority National Highways has already warned about the possible knock-on effects of the scheme across a wider area.
National Highways suggested the applicant considers how the use of a route via junction 31 of the M6 – the Tickled Trout Hotel exit – could be “mandated and enforced” for commercial traffic visiting the site from the north. Vehicles would then be able to turn around and travel back up to junction 31A to access the new estate.
If returning north after their trip, they would also be expected to use the same circuitous option – travelling south from junction 31A to 31, before leaving the motorway and rejoining to head back in the opposite direction.
The proposed routing is designed to avoid traffic being funnelled onto local roads via use of junction 1 of the M55.