Agenda item

Installation of 'Ultra Rapid Charging Hub' for electric vehicles to comprise of 8no. charging units with solar photovoltaic canopy and 4no. 7kw charging pillars to existing parking bays. Erection of battery storage unit and substation with temporary construction compound. [Guildhall Ward]

Members considered an application at Union Terrace Car Park, Clarence Street, York for the installation of an Ultra Rapid Charging Hub, erection of battery storage unit and substation with temporary construction compound.

The Development Manager gave a presentation on the applications for items 4b and 4c.  A verbal update was provided by the Development Officer in which he explained a further objection had been received regarding the existing spaces and the distance from the main route into the city.  He also noted that the plans had been revised.

In response to questions concerning the plans, officers confirmed that the proposed Hub would be drive in and reverse out and clarified that the applicant was City of York (CYC) council.  Parking bays are marked out and are wide enough for passing vehicles.  In respect to the additional distance to the main pedestrian route towards the city, the average was 50m, the furthest being 86m.

Flick Williams, a resident, spoke in objection to the application and raised concerns about the relocation of the blue badge spaces and associated safety concerns.  She highlighted that some disabled groups would not hear or see EVs (Electric Vehicles).  She also questioned the absence of an Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA).

Stuart Andrews, CYC Project Manager for the HyperHub project was available to answer questions.  He responded to questions on the EIA, the number and size of the parking spaces, general questions relating to the layout of the site, the reasons for moving the disabled parking facility, hub usage and consultation with disability groups. He confirmed the following:

·        An equalities assessment had been undertaken for the HyperHubs project.  This was prior to the council’s EIA policy.  The PAS 1899 standards had been used for guidance.  Disabled EV users had been consulted as part of the design process for the hubs.

·        There would be the same number of bays, the same shape and size as existing, with the addition of two EV charging bays.

·        The disabled parking bays were required to be moved to enable 24 hour access to the HyperHub.  If the Hub was situated further in to car park, there would be an increase in traffic, the costs of cabling would also increase and there would be a reduction in the capacity of the car park by 20-30 spaces.

Following debate, Cllr Galvin moved the officer recommendation to approve the application.  No Member was willing to second the proposal and the motion therefore fell.

[18:05 Cllr Galvin left the meeting.]

Following further debate, the Chair proposed a deferral with revised plans to come back to the full Committee, this was seconded by Cllr Craghill.  A vote was taken and the motion was passed with five in favour and 3 against.  It was therefore;

Resolved:  That the application be deferred to allow the applicant to seek an amended design to minimise the distance between the blue badge holder spaces and the pedestrian exit from the car park, avoiding crossing the vehicle entrance to the hyper hub.

Reason:     The proposed charging hub would support initiatives to encourage the switch to more sustainable travel modes. The central location would be particularly beneficial to tourists, people using work vehicles and the occupiers of the many nearby terraced properties that currently do not have easy access to charging facilities. The position within a car park, outside the Central Historic Core conservation area is a logical location for the facility. It is considered that the less than substantial harm to the setting of the adjacent Conservation Area would be outweighed by the wider environmental benefits of the proposal.

The proposed position of the charging hub should be reconsidered due to the requirement to re-locate the blue badge spaces that are currently located in the southeast corner of the car park.  Consideration should be given to a revised / relocated compound; walkway along the southern boundary; relocation of the blue badge spaces.