FT shell Recharge in use

A planning application has been submitted to Cheshire East Council for a Shell-owned petrol filling station in Macclesfield to be partly demolished and rebuilt with an electric vehicle (EV) charging hub.

The scheme, at the garage on Manchester Road in Tytherington, would involve demolishing the sales building, canopy link and car wash to make way for a new sales building, parking spaces and four electric vehicle charging bays. The petrol forecourt and the canopy would be retained as part of the redevelopment.

A supporting statement submitted by JMS Planning & Development on behalf of Shell UK said: “The replacement sales building will be modern in design, with a glazed front elevation, providing a light spacious internal environment for customers and those working within it. The increased sales area will create an improved shopping environment and better facilities for customers including male, female and DDA toileting facilities.

“The back up space will be more efficiently laid out improving the working environment for staff. The parking on site will be formalised to provide eight car parking spaces, including a DDA space, in close proximity to the store entrance.

“This clear parking provision will discourage ad hoc parking across the site. In addition, four electric vehicle charging bays and associated infrastructure are provided to the north of the sales building.

“The car wash will be removed, and the air/water bay located on the southern boundary of the site. The forecourt is to be retained as existing and will continue to operate as a four-pump island starter-gate arrangement providing refuelling positions for eight vehicles at one time.

“The existing canopy over the pumps is to be retained but the link to the sales building will be removed making the site lighter and brighter and reducing the overall massing. The tank farm and associated infrastructure is to be retained as existing (including the offset fills and vents).”

The statement also highlighted the move to electric vehicles and the need for petrol stations to adapt.

It said: “As the UK’s number one provider of premier fuels with a network of over 1,000 service stations, Shell is encouraging the take-up of electric vehicles by providing rapid charging points on many of their forecourts.

“While charging electric cars at home is often the most convenient and cost-effective way to recharge sometimes this option is not either convenient or available.

“A growing number of Shell forecourts in the UK are offering fast electric vehicle charging. This takes only around 30 minutes to fully charge and also provides electric car drivers with a shorter option to just top up to get to their destination.

“By installing high powered, fast chargers at Shell sites countrywide, Shell is helping electric vehicle drivers to travel long distances confidently and with ease.

“The application proposal includes for the provision of four EV charging spaces in the form of a new EV ‘hub’ which will have the benefit of improving the energy transition with the area and will offer increased choice and improved customer experience across the wider site, meeting the needs of customers as well as local residents.”