Maxol has earmarked £14 million for Belfast and Derry sites in 2027/28, which the company says could create 100 jobs, as reported by Love Belfast, citing The Irish News. It shows a forecourt operator tying a multi-site investment to delivery of EV charging, food and car wash facilities, with timing that, according to The Irish News, depends largely on planning.

Maxol is an Irish fuel and convenience retail group. According to RTÉ, as cited by Love Belfast, it has 249 sites across the island: 124 company-owned, 33 of them in Northern Ireland, and 125 dealer-operated. RTÉ said it employs 85 people directly and supports 1,300 jobs across the network.

The Irish News reported that the package includes £6 million at Maxol Auto24 Hazelbank on Belfast’s Shore Road, combining EV charging, convenience retail, food and an American-style conveyor car wash. It also reported £2 million for Cherryvalley, and plans at Glendermott Road in Derry for a quick-service restaurant, EV charging hub and second conveyor car wash.

The Irish News also reported that Maxol has committed £2.5 million to upgrades at sites in Bangor, Banbridge, Glengormley and Eglinton.

Love Belfast reported that RTÉ, The Irish Times and Checkout covered Maxol’s 2025 results. They said group turnover rose 1.1 per cent to €795 million and profit before tax and exceptional items rose to €40.6 million from €33.3 million, with €56.7 million invested in the retail network and no net bank debt.

Checkout quoted group chief executive Brian Donaldson as saying planning processes north and south of the border are stalling development and delaying investment, as reported by Love Belfast.

The pressure is documented. The Department for Infrastructure reported that major planning applications in Northern Ireland took an average of 41.4 weeks to reach a decision or withdrawal in 2025/26, against a 30-week statutory target.

For the sector, a forecourt investment plan that names planning as its main dependency signals that site delivery speed is shaping where operators commit capital.