Comment

Draft Black Country Plan

Representation ID: 22425

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Mr Maurice Sanders

Agent: Avison Young

Representation Summary:

Policy TRAN8 – Planning for Low Emission Vehicles
This policy seeks to ensure that new developments include adequate provision for charging
infrastructure e.g. electric vehicle charging points in car parks, measures to encourage LEV use
through travel plans and other initiatives.
Our Client supports the provision of electric vehicle charging points in principle, but has significant
concerns about the practicalities of delivery, in light of wider infrastructure constraints. The
additional loading created by car charging infrastructure is significant and it is essential that the
Black Country Authorities liaise with electricity providers as part of the Black Country Plan process
so that the implications in terms of network capacity can be understood and planned for. It cannot
be left to individual developers to pick up the cost of what could be multi-million-pound upgrades
to the Black Country’s electricity infrastructure.
It will also be important for the policy wording to maintain some flexibility so that in cases where
the provision of such infrastructure would make a scheme unviable, an exception can be made.