Derbyshire’s first all-electric car charging forecourt will create dozens of jobs
A planning application to build a series of electric car charging stations at Markham Vale would create dozens of jobs, according to the developers.
Plans to provide charging points capable of charging up to 36 vehicles at a time have been submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council.
If approved it would make the site at Markham Vale, located near Chesterfield and just off the M1, the county’s first all-electric vehicle charging forecourt. Sustainable energy business Gridserve wants to build the forecourt opposite the existing Enterprise Way service area with charge points for electric cars, lorries and buses.
The site plans feature 22 high power chargers providing up to 350kW, powerful enough to supply up to 100 miles of range in less than 10 minutes.
The jobs created would spring from opportunities in the design, engineering, construction and operation phases. Gridserve chief exec Toddington Harper said: “We are committed to delivering EV charging infrastructure that both enables the transition to net-zero carbon transport, and excites drivers to make the transition to electric vehicles.
“The geographical distribution of EV charging across the UK is essential to usher in the mass market era of electric vehicles. This development would benefit the local community and the wider UK as it reduces its reliance on fossil fuels.
“We are proud to have chosen the area of Markham Vale for this project. We hope the people across the region share our passion for delivering a cleaner, more sustainable future in the earliest possible timeframes.”
Derbyshire County Council cabinet member for clean growth and regeneration, Councillor Tony King, said: “We welcome Gridserve’s interest in Markham Vale and if their proposal is granted planning permission, the new EV forecourt will help to give motorists the confidence to make the switch to an electric vehicle and move us closer to our target of helping to get 1,000 public-facing electric vehicle charge points in place throughout the county by 2025.
