North Yorkshire Council has approved plans for an EV charging zone at a Harrogate supermarket.

Motor Fuel Group put plans to install five EV charging points and 10 EV charging bays at Morrisons, on Plumpton Park, to the council last month.

The proposal included a canopy, an air, water and vacuum unit, as well as a substation, a low voltage panel and a meter cabinet.

The new area will be built on a section of the supermarket car park. 

A proposed site layout revealed two kerbs would be installed to facilitate the scheme, while one trolley bay and 27 parking spaces would be removed to accommodate the 10 bays.

A document submitted by Carney Sweeney on behalf of Motor Fuel Group says the company is the UK’s largest forecourt operator with over 900 sites "offering dual-fuel strategy, convenient retail and food-to-go".

It says the firm took on the project as part of the Department for Transport’s 'Taking Charge’ scheme, which aims to roll-out a minimum of 300,000 public charging points across the UK by 2030.

This would help the nation reach its commitment to becoming net zero by 2050 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 28%, plans add.

Motor Fuel Group is looking to install EV charging stations at several Morrisons sites across the UK. The company feels the Harrogate development will provide access to “convenient and affordable charging” provisions for residents and visitors. 

A council officer’s report says the proposal would not cause significant harm to the appearance of the area, and would provide an appropriate form of renewable energy. 

The plans were approved subject to conditions yesterday (October 24).