Housing development in rural town may be scrapped to build 24-hour EV charging hub

A HOUSING development which had gained approval may now be scrapped to build a 24-hour EV charging hub instead.

The half-acre site on the outskirts of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, had been approved for 27 flats to be built.

Applicant Metalcraft Developments has submitted plans to Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) to install two electricity substations and bays for 36 vehicles on the land.

The project would mean changing the use of the land and putting in 18 electric vehicle charging points as well as landscaping and resurfacing as well as other external works, reports.

Development consultants ELG Planning said the location was “an undeveloped parcel of land which has remained vacant for an extended period, despite having been designated for employment use within successive adopted (CBC) Local Plans”.

In the submitted planning statement, the company said: “The surrounding area is broadly commercial in character, with an industrial estate to the north and a gym to the east, as well as the nearby McDonald’s drive through premises.

“The residential development was approved on the basis of no longer needing to maintain the land in employment usage and to occupy underused space.”

Should the plans be approved the site would operate 24/7.

Signage would put up giving instructions and also on the chargers, along with contact details if anyone had an issue.

The statement added: “A local engineer will be sent if there are problems which can’t be fixed remotely and a team of engineers will visit on a regular basis to undertake general site maintenance and to service the chargers.

“These will be rapid charging units with costs of supply determined by the operator depending on market prices.”

It continued: “There’s a growing need for the type of facility proposed with the UK having committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Electric vehicles offer one method of reducing emissions.

“This area comprises a negligible proportion of the local planning authority’s overall employment land supply, and no such development proposals to provide jobs have emerged in almost 20 years.

“It’s considered there’s overriding justification for an electric vehicle charging hub in this location.”

The application also claimed, if it was approved, it would “contribute to an identified need for more electric vehicle charging infrastructure, meeting the sustainability, climate and transport objectives of the council”.

Grovebury Asset Management had gained planning permission to build the two-bedroom apartment in January 2022, reports the .

Independent Leighton-Linslade West councillor Victoria Harvey labelled the site as “not a great place” for housing as it was near a McDonald’s fast food restaurant and a petrol station on the southern edge of the town.

She said at the time: “I pity the people who’ll live there. You’re stuck against a busy road, even with the screening. It’s not good development. Unfortunately, it’s hard to refuse.”

Leighton-Linslade Town Council objected on the grounds of highway safety, the need for sufficient noise mitigation, the loss of employment land and potential risk of flooding issues.

CBC’s development management committee will consider the electric vehicle charging scheme at a future date.