New electric car rapid charging hub planned for Kilmarnock retail park

A new electric vehicle charging hub is set to be developed at Queen’s Drive retail park in Kilmarnock.

A planning application for a facility with six 150kW rapid chargers and one standard 22kW charger was lodged with East Ayrshire Council recently.

The proposed hub would be site between Asda and Smyths toy store.

The site is located in an area with a ‘medium likelihood’ of flooding from rivers, and partially within an area with a ‘low likelihood’ of surface water flooding.

The retail park was given the go ahead in 1996.

The application seeks approval for the installation of Electrical Vehicle charging up stands; a substation and underground cabling; and
other associated infrastructure.”

The application documents argue that the proposals met with guidance and would ‘improve, enhance or provide active travel infrastructure, public transport infrastructure or multi modal hubs will be supported.

This includes proposals: for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and electric vehicle forecourts, especially where fuelled by renewable energy.

The applicant argues that the national planning policy position is therefore supportive of proposals for EV charging infrastructure.

The move will lead to the loss of two spaces, although the report points out that there around 408 spaces there.

The applicant claims that ‘given the quantum of parking available within the wider retail park this is considered negligible’.

“Given the scale of the reduction in spaces and existing provision of parking at the retail park, the Proposed Development will not adversely impact on the surrounding area, or result in on-street parking.

“Furthermore, given that the proposal is for an EV charging hub at an existing car park and the number of proposed parking spaces is a small reduction over the existing, it is considered that the proposal does not meet the threshold for a Transport Assessment, as it would be unlikely to generate significant amounts of additional movement given the majority of users of the EV charging upstands are expected to be associated with linked trips to those using existing facilities at the retail park.”