Client
Naturalis
Size
500 Hectares
Local Authority
Dorset Council
Sectors
Energy,
Solar, EV Charging
Key Project Information
- Blandford Hill Eco Hub consists of an vehicle (EV) charging station, 15MW ground mounted solar farm, and 3MW battery-storage facility.
- We provided multidisciplinary expertise including planning, economics, environment, heritage and transport and infrastructure.
- The Blandford Hill Eco Hub will make an important contribution towards this aim in a rural part of Dorset, where most people rely on their cars, by allowing up to 19 electrical vehicles to charge simultaneously.
- The Hub will provide 117 jobs during construction and up to 8 permanent positions when it is operational.
- The project team are now preparing for the construction stage and it is anticipated that the Blandford Hill Eco Hub will be fully operational by mid- to late-2023, starting its 40-year lifespan.
Blandford Hill Eco Hub consists of an vehicle (EV) charging station, 15MW ground mounted solar farm, and 3MW battery-storage facility.
By combining green electricity generation, storage and charging, the site’s green potential is maximised and will provide charging stations for up to 19 vehicles at any one time.
The landscape has been carefully considered to provide ecological benefits and to screen the eco hub from views helping it to blend into its rural surroundings.
The development layout has also responded to the historic environment, and interpretation boards will be installed to inform visitors of on- and off-site archaeology.
The Government’s ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is only a few years away. Electric vehicle sales are already growing rapidly but in order to enable a smooth transition away from cars powered by petrol and diesel, it is widely recognised that a timely roll-out of EV charging infrastructure will be absolutely critical.
Excitingly, the Hub will enable drivers to power up their vehicles with zero-carbon electricity, thanks to the integrated solar farm that will be connected to the car chargers.
Matt Partidge – Development Director
The electric vehicle charging station element of the scheme would comprise of construction of a new access off the existing lay-by to the south of the A354; Around 6 ultra-rapid (up to 350kW) and 6 rapid (43-100kW) charging points with additional fast chargers and Tesla “Superchargers” are proposed providing the ability to charge up to 19 EVs at any one time.
Public rest facilities including public conveniences, a small café/shop and seating/rest area and all necessary associated development and facilities, including 30 car parking spaces (for EVs as well as non-EVs, to replace the lost lay-by), hardstanding, landscaping and outdoor seating.
All Councillors of Dorset Council’s Strategic Planning Committee who were present throughout the committee meeting voted in support of the plans, following their officers’ recommendation for approval.
Our expert teams in planning, urban design, heritage and environment prepared and submitted the application and actively engaged with Dorset Council and Statutory consultees throughout the determination period to ensure the proposals were acceptable.
The proposals enjoyed support from Winterbourne Whitechurch Parish Council and from the Dorset LEP. At the committee meeting, Councillors agreed that the plans for the Hub are innovative and, in the words of Cllr Sherry Jespersen, represent “a good example of the planning process working well.”
The Hub will provide 117 jobs during construction and up to 8 permanent positions when it is operational, mainly for the café and shop facilities, supporting the local economy. The project team will now prepare for the construction stage and it is anticipated that the Blandford Hill Eco Hub will be fully operational by mid- to late-2023, starting its 40-year lifespan.