Erewash is poised to get an electric charging station for 22 vehicles – complete with two new eateries where drivers with cars plugged in can top up their own batteries.
The hub will be near Ilkeston where a development of new warehouses and industrial units is taking shape at New Stanton Park – site of the town’s former ironworks.
The restaurants are both drive throughs. They will also cater for potentially thousands of new employees who would otherwise drive off site to find food.
The entire scheme won planning consent after borough councillors were told: “Even the most rapid 30-min chargers require catering facilities for customers whilst charging takes place.” Officials said that the new eateries when combined with the charging hub would “assist in encouraging inward investment to New Stanton Park”.
A report to the borough council’s planning committee added: “The provision of such facilities are considered crucial in meeting the council’s carbon reduction objectives.”
Councillor Curtis Howard, Lead Member for Town Centres, Regeneration and Planning, said: "I was very pleased to see this application pass at committee – councillors voted to create jobs, facilitate investment in Erewash, and ultimately grow the local economy. While not originally planned for the site, this is a laudable addition to a regeneration project which in the coming years should create thousands of jobs, forging a new future for Stanton whilst also respecting its history.”
The proposed drive-through restaurants got the OK as plans to build two others – close to the M1 at Bostocks Lane on the edge of Sandiacre – were rejected.
Greggs and Starbucks were aiming to open on land near the Junction 25 roundabout. The bid was submitted almost a decade after McDonald’s appealed in vain against a planning veto.
The new application claimed to have addressed issues such as potential traffic hazards but councillors remained unconvinced.
Sandiacre Parish Council was against the development – as were neighbouring Risley with Hopwell and Stanton-by-Dale parish councils.
Objectors also feared that unhealthy fast food would lure pupils at nearby Friesland secondary school across a busy road.
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