Welcome
This page provides information on our plans for an Electric Forecourt® in Bromborough.
GRIDSERVE Bromborough
GRIDSERVE Sustainable Energy Ltd. plans to build and operate an Electric Forecourt® in Bromborough. It will provide a new facility for medium and High Power electrical vehicle charging, powered by 100% renewable energy.
It will help the UK's transition to electric vehicles, reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and put the Wirral on the map for new green technologies. Construction is due to start in late 2023 with opening planned for late 2024.
Who is GRIDSERVE
GRIDSERVE® is a tech-enabled sustainable energy business. We develop, build, own and operate dependable, low cost, clean energy solutions for critical power infrastructure. To help reduce greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible, we #deliver net zero carbon solutions for power and transport which are designed to be better and less expensive than legacy solutions. With this project, we intend to continue our tech-enabled ‘Sun-To-Wheel’ infrastructure to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.
The Site
The site of the proposed Electric Forecourt® is located on Old Hall Road at the entrance to the Wirral International Business Park, CH62 3PE, and fronts onto the A41 (New Chester Road). Access into this site is from Old Hall Road. The site of the Electric Forecourt® is limited to approximately 1.51 acres (0.61ha).
The site is currently vacant, having previously been used for parking associated with an office block. An area to the southeast of the main site will be used for a battery storage energy system to power the charges with renewable energy harvested from solar farms.
The Proposed Electric Forecourt®
GRIDSERVE has carefully considered the feasibility of an Electric Forecourt® on the site and carried out a detailed site analysis. This analysis has considered environmental and planning designations, proximity to major roads and residential areas, existing screening, topography, proximity to the grid connection point, capacity in the local electricity grid and availability of electric vehicle charging facilities in the local area.
The point of connection to the grid is to the east of the site at Hardknott Road and meets all the criteria for an Electric Forecourt®.
An Electric Forecourt® is the new generation of filling station designed to meet the demands of the electric vehicle market. The concept was conceived through extensive research into the limitations and frustrations with existing charging infrastructure, and will future-proof Bromborough for the transition to green transport.
View the first GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourt® in Braintree, Essex.
At the time of submission, Wirral Council area had approximately four electric vehicle rapid charging points in three locations, which is insufficient to meet both current and forecasted demand.
The Bromborough Electric Forecourt® will provide 36 new Medium and High power charging points. It will make a significant contribution to local electric vehicle infrastructure and support passing traffic on the A41.
It will be a green and clean development that aligns with Local and National support for electrifying transportation to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.
- Potential to charge up to 36 vehicles at high speed simultaneously
- A scheme that will enable people to transition to electric mobility and contribute to improvements to local air quality
- The use of 100% renewable energy to help with the transition to a net zero carbon economy
- On-site solar generation to power the amenities building
- A pedestrian friendly, relaxing dwell time environment to ensure customers can make best use of their charging time
- The creation of at least nine new, full-time jobs in a growing sector of the economy
Features of an Electric Forecourt®
Electric Forecourts® support the transition to electric vehicles and future-proof communities to meet the UK’s net zero carbon goals.
The electric vehicle charging spaces will focus on the fastest vehicle charging capability with charging provision for different vehicle types including charging provision for contracted fleet vehicles.
GRIDSERVE's Medium and High Power charging solutions will address the needs of mass market electrical vehicle drivers. The Bromborough site includes a pedestrian friendly environment with external walking routes and a covered walkway that connects charging spaces to a two-storey hub building.
- Lounge-space for people to relax whilst charging their vehicle
- Food and beverage, including convenience retail and small-scale coffee shop
- Toilet facilities and wellbeing area
- Free high speed Wi-Fi and meeting pods
- An electric vehicle education service
Key Development Principles
- A modular design that is scalable and can largely be developed off-site.
- Ease of access from the highway network.
- Sensitive landscape design and
additional native tree planting. - Minimal land-take through an efficient use of the site.
- A green, clean and high-quality customer environment with ancillary facilities and services.
- Use of permeable surfaces wherever possible.
“The proposed design has been developed around a number of key principles to ensure environmental harmony and ongoing sustainable principles are met.”
- Raoul Tuffnell, Chief Development Officer at GRIDSERVE.
The Electric Forecourt® will not be a significant trip generator and will instead be used mainly by cars already on the network. There will therefore be limited impact on local traffic levels.
A Transport Statement formed part of the planning application. The Statement demonstrated that there is sufficient capacity at the junction of the A41 with Old Hall Road.
Ecology
Whilst the site is in a primarily industrial area, biodiversity is an important consideration in all GRIDSERVE development projects.
The site will be supported by net zero carbon energy from solar farms with biodiverse nature sanctuaries. It will also include new landscaping and a living green wall on the building to improve the ecological value of the site.
Flood Risk
The site is situated predominately in ‘Flood Zone 1’ which is an area of land with the least probability of flooding.
A Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy has been submitted as part of the planning application, which provides further details.
Noise
A Noise Impact Assessment was prepared and submitted with the planning application.
The Assessment demonstrates that any noise from the development will not be heard beyond the immediate local area and that the impacts on area are negligible, given the existing background noise levels.
THANK YOU, BROMBOROUGH
We're grateful for your feedback and we've taken it on board. If you'd like to share more with us, we encourage you email us at connect@gridserve.com.