Solar powered car park for Doncaster Council's electric vehicle fleet gets approval

The car park, which will have space for 20 vehicles, is situated just a stone’s throw away from the council’s Civic Office in Waterdale.

The site off College Road was initially planned for office space but council officers said the car park plan would be a better use due to the current economy and in turn provide higher green credentials.

The planning committee voted overwhelmingly to approve the plans but Rossington & Bawtry councillor Mick Cooper voted against it citing the loss of ‘valuable green space’.

Despite voting for the plans, Sprotbrough councillor Jonathan Wood said he ‘fully concurred’ with Coun Cooper’s comments on the loss of green space.

The site is said to be currently used as a contractor’s compound and the wider plans will include a solar panel roof covering the area which in turn would provide electricity for charging vehicles.

The solar canopy will be approximately five metres high at its highest point and 3.2 metres high fronting College Road. The overall size of the development is 45 metres long by 21 metres wide.

The new parking location will aim to support the recent investment of over £1 million in dozens of electric pool cars for use of council staff

The sale of the Council House car park required DMBC to relocate its fleet of 39 pool cars and other vehicles to a new location within the town centre.

The other 19 are being parked at the former Scarborough House site.

DMBC Urban Design team did express concern the car park was to be built on a site identified as having the potential for offices.

But they recognised that the current office market is challenging in the town centre and there are other more important sites where new offices may be focused.

Richard Smith, head of sustainability at Doncaster Council, said: “There’s a cost saving to the council, electric vehicles use 28 per cent of the usual cost.

“It costs £300 per year for 10,000 miles travelled versus £1,100 pounds for a petrol vehicle.

“In terms of the location is perfect for users in terms of safe access and easy access greatest efficiency for an staff access to and from the Civic Office.

“It’s also a visual display of the changes that have been made to the transport industry and supports the Government and the council’s ambition for netzero carbon emissions.”

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