Plans have been submitted in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, for what is expected to be the largest electric vehicle (EV) charging hub in Europe, consisting of as many as 800 EV charging points.
London-based property manager Shelborn Asset Management has filed plans with Edinburgh City Council for what is planned to be an 800,000 square foot office development. With a sustainability focus, the new development – dubbed Edinburgh Green – will feature an EV charging hub with capacity for up to 800 EVs.
Shelborn has promised that the EV charging points would be available to both office workers as well as the wider public – though, public access appears to be limited to evenings and weekends, outside of business hours.
Initial plans call for the installation of 170 EV points but with capacity for a further 595 within the site.
A mobility hub
Beyond the EV charging capabilities, Edinburgh Green will be tied in with a wider transport mobility hub, providing car club access, public transport links, and cycle parking.
Edinburgh Green will be able to house more than 7,000 employees and will also boast a multi-purpose pavilion surrounded by landscaped grounds and a pond.
When complete and operational, Edinburgh Green would overtake The Energy Superhub in Oxford as the largest charging hub in Europe, which is currently planning for around 450 charge points.
“Sustainability will be at the heart of this development, which promises to be a game-changer by transforming the common perception of what an office workspace should look like,” said Brian Rabinowitz, director at Shelborn.
“As Edinburgh’s market continues to grow post-pandemic, public and private sector occupiers are demanding a better-quality workspace which gives their employees better places to work.
“Edinburgh Green is seeking to respond directly to this, creating a new kind of workspace that optimises a well-connected brownfield site, complete with all the amenities and functionality demanded by both employer and employee alike.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.