EV charging hubs.

The safety of the access onto a busy road, whether trips are new or already passing, queuing when chargers are full, the layout for different vehicle sizes, and the effect of any ancillary food or retail.

• Trip generation separating new, pass-by and diverted trips.
• Dwell times and charger occupancy.
• Access design and visibility onto the main road.
• Swept paths, including vans and vehicles with trailers.

A cafe or shop changes how long people stay and how the site is serviced. We assess the combined use so the evidence reflects what will actually happen.

• A Transport Statement covering new, pass-by and diverted trips.
• A charger occupancy and queuing assessment.
• Access design for cars, vans and, where proposed, HGVs.
• Swept paths for all vehicle types, including towing.
• Assessment of any cafe, shop or drive-thru on site.

A typical case is a 16-bay rapid charging hub beside a busy A road, with a coffee shop. The highway authority asks whether queuing will spill onto the road and how many new trips there will be. We show that most visitors are already passing, that occupancy rarely reaches capacity, and that waiting space on site prevents queuing at the access. Our insight on how many EV hub trips are new sets out the method.

Charging hubs have short dwell times for rapid charging, so turnover is high but the total of new trips is modest. Bays should be sized for larger EVs and vans, with drive-through bays where towing is expected. Grid connection equipment such as substations needs maintenance access. For HGV charging, we design for articulated vehicles and check the approach roads.

Common concerns are queuing onto the road, the safety of the access and the number of new trips. Evidence of charger occupancy, pass-by trips and on-site waiting space usually resolves them.

On trunk roads, National Highways applies its own standards. Our Tore appeal summary shows how an EV hub was assessed in Scotland.

We provide the transport statement, access design and layout checks for charging hubs of all sizes.

The same questions arise in Scotland and Wales, where they are assessed against NPF4 and Scottish guidance or Planning Policy Wales and TAN 18 rather than the NPPF.

To get a quote, send us:

• The site address or a location plan.
• The number and type of chargers and any ancillary uses.
• The access and any existing use of the site.
• Any pre-application advice or highways comments you already have.