A WHOLESALE giant has lodged plans to build an exclusive petrol station in Southampton.

Members-only-club, Costco, wants to create a new fuelling forecourt beside its store in Regents Park.

Containing 18 fully automated pay-at-pump filling positions, the garage would sell unleaded, premium unleaded and premium diesel at discount prices.

However drivers will need to be a Costco member with a Costco card if they want to fill their tank.

If plans are given the go-ahead by Southampton City Council, the company will build the filling station on part of its car-park – taking up 85 of the 601 parking spaces.

The American wholesale giant say the plans come following the success of Costco’s petrol filling

stations elsewhere in the UK.

Described as the ‘second biggest retail in the world’, the company currently operates 12 petrol stations at its stores, including Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol.

Costco members pay an annual fee to gain access to its services and discounted goods from its warehouses.

Memberships are available to people who work in a select group of industries, including civil servants, emergency services, education staff and military personnel.

Qualified professionals, such as doctors, lawyers and architects can also apply.

Worldwide, the company has 88 million members with access to to its 732 stores, 28 of which are in the UK.