Planning permission has been requested to replace 19 car parking spaces with 12 EV charging bays at The Orchard Centre car park in Didcot.

Orchard Centre owners Corona Vulcan Didcot Limited have submitted the application to authority South Oxfordshire District Council via agents Burnett Planning & Development Limited, which includes associated equipment including a substation, feeder pillar and charging units.

In a covering letter to the authority on February 21, agents Burnett noted the spaces would be located on the western edge of the car park, off Hitchcock Way, with six dual charging units serving two parking bays.

The feeder pillar and substation would be “positioned at the northern end of the line of parking bays within the small area of existing peripheral landscaping.”

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It notes however that an operator for the charging facilities or a charging speed have not been confirmed, but claimed the units “will provide for fast charging consistent with the short stay parking duration allowed at the Orchard Centre”.

Reference is also drawn to the Adopted Local Plan Policy, which supports the provision of electric vehicle charging “in safe, accessible and convenient locations” and measures to minimise air pollution, including the use of electric vehicles.

The proposals, if approved, would result in a reduction of seven spaces in the car park, with the total provision falling from 859 to 852 spaces.

The application is currently in its consultation stage, open for representations and objections, which closes on March 15.

The district council has listed a target decision date of April 17.