Plans for electric vehicle parking in Swindon come into force

Plans for a three-storey car park on the former park and ride site have been approved.

The facility in Swindon will be built specifically to house delivery vans and electric vehicles.

It will include vehicle charging points and photovoltaic panels that will regenerate the energy used when charging vehicles parked there.

It is hoped the plans will help delivery companies switch to electric vehicles and bring “social and environmental” benefits to the area.

The facility will be built by Infinium Logistics, which claims it will provide companies with convenience and a chance to reduce their impact on the environment.

They say this will enable businesses to “transition to zero greenhouse gas emissions through the use of electric vehicles, but also enable charging facilities for cars and vans to be made available to the public.”

The company also believes it will benefit local residents by “reducing the number of ‘white vans’ parked on the streets overnight.”

A brownfield site on the former Groundwell industrial site will be redeveloped following approval from Swindon City Council.

The plans also include social facilities for staff and users, as well as permission to build a single-story commercial building, which will most likely serve as a cafe.

Council planners said the development would provide significant “renewable energy infrastructure and “contribute to the borough’s carbon neutrality targets”.