Plans for electric car forecourt in Basildon delayed
The plans would see an electric car charging station built near the A127 in Wickford
A huge electric car charging forecourt near a major road has been delayed after Essex councillors raised concerns over increased traffic.
Plans by Gridserve Sustainable Energy Ltd for the electric charging station next to the A127 in Wickford went before Basildon Council’s planning committee last night (November 2).
But the plans, which would include 31 charging points, a café, lounge, gym and children’s area, were criticised by some councillors over the potential worsening of traffic on the already-busy major road, as well as the impact on the site’s green belt setting.
Ultimately the committee voted to defer a final decision, seeking more information from Essex Highways.
Speaking at the meeting, Gridserve’s planning manager Emma Harding said the forecourt would give people the opportunity and confidence to switch to electric vehicles amid the climate emergency.
She said: “This is our moment and we can’t afford to waste it by doing nothing.”
The applicant is arguing the provision of renewable energy constitutes the very special circumstances required to approve building on the green belt.
Since Gridserve’s similar electric forecourt in Braintree opened in 2020, local uptake in electric vehicles has increased by over 25 per cent, Ms Harding continued.
The council’s cabinet member for environment and carbon reduction Kevin Blake said he had been impressed after visiting the Braintree site.
However, he urged the committee to defer and demanded representatives from Essex Highways come to the next meeting.
He said: “It’s an absolute shambles that Essex Highways has said that this is a facility okay for travelling.
“If anybody goes down there, 24/7 almost, you try and go down that road and you can’t get down there. The double lane, dual carriageways, goes into single carriageway, it’s chock-a-block.”
According to a council report, the proposal is aimed to be the equivalent of a petrol station but for electric vehicles.
It is additionally set to include retail space, a café, offices, a lounge area, gym, children’s area and an electric vehicle showroom.