EV charging hub plans north of Stone thrown out at appeal
A planning inspector has thrown out proposals for a new drive-through restaurant and electric vehicle charging hub on land north of Stone after concluding the development would be inappropriate for the Green Belt.
Stafford Council planning officers rejected the application for land off the A34 opposite the George and Dragon pub at Meaford last year, saying the development would have resulted in “significant urban encroachment into a continuous green space”.
More than 30 electric vehicle charging bays were proposed alongside a restaurant and picnic area. But the authority said the requirement for an EV charging hub of the scale proposed in the Green Belt location “has not been adequately demonstrated”.
More than 160 people objected to the application and members of Stone Town Council also spoke out against it.
A supporting statement submitted as part of the application had said there was a “notable shortfall in the provision of ultra-rapid charging infrastructure along the A34 and the M6” however, and the the planning application stated that the development would create up to 50 new jobs.
The supporting statement said: “Charging points currently available within the locality are within the curtilage of commercial premises, such as garden centres or drive-through coffee shops, where restrict access to these chargers to staff and visitors only.
"Such provision cannot meet the growing demand for much more efficient charging infrastructure from the growing number of EV users.
“The concept of this proposal is to provide EV charging infrastructure to drivers using the A34, as well as to the local communities and employers from nearby settlements or villages.
"The EV charging facilities will be supported by communal picnic areas and a drive-through restaurant, for motorists wanting to take refreshment or purchase food or meals while recharging their vehicles.”
George Developments Limited lodged an appeal following the borough council’s decision to refuse permission. But planning inspector Zoe Raygen ruled in favour of the authority and dismissed the appeal.
In her decision notice she said: “I am not convinced, on the evidence before me, that a drive through restaurant would constitute local transport infrastructure as part of a charging hub in this location.
"I accept that it would provide a facility for people to eat and drink at while waiting to charge their vehicle, given that it contains an indoor restaurant seating area.
“However, it is also a drive through facility not specifically targeted at users of the charging facility, as they would need to wait for the cars to be charged rather than drive through.
"There is nothing persuasive to suggest the drive through restaurant is dependant on the provision of the charging points.
“Consequently, given its location near to several large settlements, it would in my view, attract customers solely to that facility rather than passing by on their journey.
"Therefore, the drive through restaurant would be inappropriate development irrespective of my conclusions on the charging infrastructure.
“The proposal would provide environmental benefits through the provision of charging facilities, to improve the infrastructure for electric cars leading to a low carbon economy.
"Furthermore, there would be the creation of jobs and economic benefits during construction.
“These are significant considerations but would not be sufficient to clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt by inappropriateness and the other harm I have identified.
"Consequently, the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development do not exist.”
