Client story

Redeveloping a derelict site to deliver the first town centre Electric Vehicle Charging Hub

Due to its location and connection to the M4 and into Slough town centre, Aberdeen Standard Investments wanted to establish the feasibility of an EV charging hub on a derelict and constricted site.

Location

Slough, UK

Spotlight

First EV charging hub of this kind within a town centre

Challenge

Aberdeen Standard Investments has a cleared parcel of land located next to its seven-storey office, The Urban Building, in Slough’s town centre. The development potential of the site is constricted due to the size, proximity of neighbouring development, and the need to achieve a viable use.

As the site is located on the corner of two main roads and provides a good connection to the M4 and Slough town centre, the client wanted to explore the feasibility of installing an Electric Vehicle (‘EV’) charging hub. The initiative aims to support Aberdeen Standard Investments’ commitment to reducing emissions, and with the UK committing to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 the initiative would also contribute to much-needed electric charging infrastructure.

We hope that this pioneering EV charging hub in the town centre is the stimulus for many more of its kind.

Isabel Scruby, Planning Consultant, JLL
Solution

As managers of the existing office building and having undertaken other planning projects with the client, Aberdeen Standard Investments asked the JLL Planning team to research the planning policy position and pre-application discussion with the council, which led onto the submission and later the approval of the full planning application.

When built out the scheme will deliver the first EV charging hub of this kind within a town centre on the outskirts of London with a total of 12 EV charging bays made up of 10 individual charging stations; 8 DC rapid charging and 2 dual-port AC slow/fast charging.

The scheme is far from a traditional petrol filling station, but instead is a state-of-the-art, modern charging hub. The key benefits of the development are:

  • Publicly Accessible EV Charging
    The development will be open 24 hours, 7 days a week to the public. This scheme seeks to encourage local residents and workers to transfer from combustion to electric engines due to the knowledge that there is a nearby charging hub.
  • Bringing a vacant site back into sustainable use
    The town centre brownfield site will be reinstated back into sustainable use. The EV Charging Hub is a facility that promotes environmental sustainability through the facility to support electric vehicles which in turn reduces the CO2 emissions compared to commonly used combustion engines..
  • Landscape improvements and site frontage
    The proposal provides improved landscaping on the site boundary which consequently will enhance the appearance of the currently derelict site and improve the biodiversity compared to the existing site.

In this case, the energy infrastructure required for the electric charging stations will be provided through the excess capacity from the office building which enhances the sustainability of the scheme.

During the application the JLL Planners worked closely with the project team- Raw Charging, TSG and Velocity Transport Planners to ensure that the scheme was deemed acceptable by the Slough Borough Council. They overcame challenges relating to access, noise and design with minor design alterations, evidence-led approaches and researching recent decisions made by the Council in close proximity to the site.

Results

The JLL Planning team gained full planning permission under delegated powers before the end of 2020. The project illustrates JLL’s and Aberdeen Standard Investments ambition to seek opportunities for developments which are sustainable and support commitments to Net Zero Carbon.

We hope that this pioneering EV charging hub in the town centre is the stimulus for many more of its kind.

The EV charging hub hopes to be operational in Summer this year.