Could Your Land Be Suitable For EV Charging?
The continued growth of electric vehicle use is creating demand for well-located charging infrastructure across the UK. Land in the right location can therefore present an opportunity for EV charging development.
At Revive Estates Group, we help landowners understand whether their site may be suitable for EV charging, what factors could influence its potential and which development route may be worth exploring.
REQUEST YOUR FREE LAND ASSESSMENT →What Types Of Land Are We Looking For?
EV charging opportunities can arise in a range of locations. The most important consideration is whether the site has the right combination of location, accessibility, available space and supporting infrastructure.
Roadside Land
Prominent roadside sites with good vehicle access can potentially be attractive for charging facilities, particularly where motorists can conveniently enter, charge and continue their journey.
Commercial Sites
Existing commercial locations, business premises and underused commercial land may provide opportunities where charging could complement an established use.
Car Parks & Parking Areas
Existing parking areas can sometimes offer suitable space for charging infrastructure, subject to parking requirements, access, power availability and planning considerations.
Retail & Leisure Locations
Sites close to retail parks, supermarkets, leisure destinations and other facilities can potentially benefit from customers being able to charge while using existing services.
Existing Service Locations
Existing roadside or service-based locations may have potential for additional charging provision where the site layout, access and available infrastructure allow it.
Underused Land With Good Access
Land that is currently vacant or underused may be worth investigating where its location, access and proximity to suitable destinations could support an EV charging use.
Location is only the starting point.
A site may look ideal for EV charging but still face important practical constraints. Grid connection capacity, highway access, planning policy, drainage, site layout and the surrounding land uses all need to be considered before its suitability can be established.
Why Can EV Charging Land Be Attractive?
Well-positioned charging sites can potentially serve growing demand for convenient vehicle charging while making productive use of suitable land or existing parking and commercial locations.
Growing Charging Demand
As electric vehicle ownership increases, conveniently located charging infrastructure is becoming an increasingly important part of the transport network.
Strategic Locations
Sites close to major roads, retail destinations, workplaces, leisure facilities and established communities may offer useful locations for charging.
Additional Use For Existing Land
EV charging can sometimes complement an existing commercial, retail, service or parking use rather than requiring an entirely new standalone site.
Long-Term Infrastructure Opportunity
Suitable charging locations can form part of the UK's wider transition towards electric transport, making location and infrastructure particularly important when assessing a site.
Potential Land Value Uplift
Where a site can support a viable commercial use, identifying its potential may create an opportunity to improve the value or attractiveness of the land to an operator or developer.
EV charging suitability is highly site-specific. Grid capacity, connection costs, access, planning, parking requirements, traffic flows and the commercial viability of the location all need to be considered.
What Makes A Good EV Charging Site?
Not every piece of land is suitable for EV charging. A strong site needs to work from both a practical and commercial perspective, with the location, access and infrastructure all considered together.
Grid Connection
Available electricity capacity and the cost and practicality of obtaining an appropriate grid connection can be critical considerations for an EV charging development.
Easy Vehicle Access
Drivers need to be able to enter and leave the site safely and conveniently. Site access, road layout and highway considerations can therefore be fundamental.
Strong Traffic Flows
Locations with established vehicle movements may be attractive where drivers are likely to need convenient charging during their journeys or activities.
Sufficient Space
The site needs to accommodate charging bays, circulation, access, equipment and any associated parking or customer facilities required by the proposed scheme.
Nearby Amenities
Locations close to shops, food and drink, leisure, workplaces or other facilities may provide useful opportunities for drivers to charge while they use existing services.
Planning Position
Local planning policy, the site's existing use, surrounding development and any environmental or landscape constraints can all influence the potential for an EV charging scheme.
Commercial Viability
A technically suitable site still needs to make commercial sense. Location, demand, infrastructure costs and the proposed operating model can all affect whether an opportunity is viable.
The grid connection can be a critical consideration.
A site may have an excellent location and plenty of space, but limited electricity capacity or a costly connection can materially affect its development potential. This is why infrastructure should be considered early rather than after a development strategy has already been established.
What Could Your EV Charging Land Be Worth?
Land with potential for EV charging can have a very different value from ordinary development land because its value may depend on the commercial opportunity that can be created from the location.
There is no standard value for EV charging land. The potential value will depend on factors such as location, grid availability, access, site capacity and the type of charging facility that could realistically be delivered.
Understanding these factors before agreeing a sale or long-term arrangement can help you make a more informed decision about your land.
Factors That Can Influence Value
Location
The site's position in relation to major roads, towns, retail, workplaces and other destinations can influence its attractiveness.
Grid Capacity
The availability, capacity and cost of an electricity connection can have a significant effect on the feasibility of a charging site.
Access & Traffic
Easy vehicle access and suitable traffic flows can make a location more attractive to potential operators or developers.
Charging Capacity
The number and type of charging bays that could potentially be accommodated can influence the scale of the commercial opportunity.
Planning Potential
Planning policy, existing use, site constraints and the suitability of the proposed development can all affect underlying land value.
Commercial Demand
Demand from charging operators and other businesses for suitable locations can influence the attractiveness of the opportunity.
The value of EV charging land is driven by opportunity, not simply acreage. A smaller site in the right location with suitable access and infrastructure can potentially be more valuable than a much larger site without those characteristics.
Could Your Land Support EV Charging?
If you own roadside land, commercial property, parking areas or other underused land that could potentially accommodate EV charging infrastructure, Revive Estates Group can provide an initial assessment of the opportunity.
We can help you understand whether the site's location, access, available space and wider characteristics appear suitable for further investigation.
REQUEST YOUR FREE LAND ASSESSMENT →Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the most common questions landowners ask when considering whether their land could be suitable for EV charging infrastructure.
Potential opportunities can include roadside land, commercial sites, car parks, retail locations, service locations and other underused land with suitable access and infrastructure. Every site needs to be assessed individually.
Not necessarily. Roadside locations can be attractive, but EV charging can also work alongside retail, leisure, workplace, commercial and other destinations where drivers can conveniently access the site.
It can be extremely important. The available electricity capacity, connection requirements and associated costs can have a significant effect on whether a proposed charging development is practical and commercially viable.
There is no single required site size. The amount of land needed depends on the number and type of charging bays, vehicle circulation, parking, equipment and any additional facilities proposed.
Planning requirements depend on the site, existing use, proposed works and the particular circumstances of the development. The planning position should be established before assuming that a charging scheme can proceed.
Values vary considerably. Location, traffic, accessibility, grid capacity, development potential, site constraints and demand from potential operators can all influence the value of a site.
Potentially. Some charging operators may consider leasing suitable land rather than purchasing it. Whether this is appropriate will depend on the location, site characteristics, commercial terms and operator requirements.
Yes. Revive Estates Group offers a free initial land assessment to help establish whether your land or property may have potential for EV charging or another development opportunity.