EG Group plans major upgrade for Blackburn service station

Proposals to demolish Blackburn Service Station and replace it with a new complex complete with ultra-fast electric vehicle chargers have been revealed by EG Group.

It has applied for planning permission for the upgrade at the Whalley Banks Euro Garages site.

The Blackburn-based group has last month completed the sale of the majority of its UK and Ireland fuel, foodservice, grocery and merchandise business to Asda for a cash consideration of £2 billion, but retained 32 sites in the UK.

The application to Blackburn with Darwen Council is for a replacement development which will include a substation and two rapid electric vehicle charging points with a linked substation and cut the number of petrol/diesel pumps from 12 to six.

 “The planning application site is 0.21 hectares in area located approximately 600 metres to the South West of Blackburn town centre. It comprises a petrol filling station (PFS), consisting of a total of 12 refuelling bays located at the centre of the site, with ancillary shops consisting of a pharmacy and a SPAR convenience store,” it said in a supporting statement.

EG Group, which earlier this month acquired Tesla’s ultra-fast electric vehicle chargers, said the most Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCPs) are concentrated in Blackburn town centre with very little serving the south-west of Blackburn.

“Moreover, many of the available charging points are located at shopping centres, supermarkets, or cinemas, which are intended for customer use only.

“All the available EVCP within the wider town centre are only considered to be fast to rapid chargers (ranging from 22 kilowatts to 50kW) and as such, there is a clear need for ultra-rapid EVCP that can deliver charging power of 100kW or more,” the document states.

The group sought full planning consent for the demolition of the existing PFS, ancillary shop and pharmacy at the site and erection of a petrol filling station with ancillary retail shop and creation of two rapid electric vehicle charge points.

“It will primarily serve passing traffic off the A674 providing an enhanced experience where they can stop and refuel or recharge their vehicles and purchase food and refreshments from the food and retail shop,” the group said in the statement.

“The upgraded PFS will have six refuelling bays located at the central portion of the site and is shielded by a canopy. The EV charging post will be able to deliver ultra-rapid charging speeds (up to 150kW) recharging EVs in roughly twenty minutes.”

(With inputs from Bill Jacobs of Local Democracy Reporting Service)