COUNCILLORS have opposed plans for a new Starbucks drive-through and electric vehicle charging points on the border of Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) and Caerphilly.
The application for an electric vehicle ultra-rapid charging hub including a coffee-shop with drive through on land adjacent to HBH Land Rovers in Caerphilly Road, Nantgarw went before RCT Council’s planning committee on Thursday, February 13 with members voting against it.
The proposed coffee shop drive-through would be a franchise run by the Magic Bean Company with 10 full time jobs and 10 part time jobs to be created, according to the applicant’s agent.
But the committee voted against officers’ recommendation to approve it on the grounds of increasing congestion, lack of pedestrian access and encroachment on to green space and it will come back to a future committee for the strengths and weaknesses of the decision to be considered.
The development would have 35 parking spaces with 12 of these spaces being served by six high-speed electric vehicle charging units.
Two of the 12 EV spaces would be designated disabled bays and two further disabled bays for standard vehicles would be at the entrance to the unit.
Details submitted with the application indicate that the charging stations can deliver ultra-rapid charging, which can charge an electric vehicle battery from 0% to 80% in around 20 minutes which is a much shorter time frame than any other chargers within RCT or Caerphilly.
One loading bay would be provided adjacent to the entrance to the drive-through as well as one waiting space adjacent to the end of the drive-through lane and cycle stands would also be provided within the site.
The parcel of land is to the south-west of the roundabout between Caerphilly Road (A468) and the Caerphilly Mountain Road (A469).
Whilst the site lies entirely within the RCT boundary it is accessed via the A469 (Caerphilly Mountain Road) which is within the administrative boundary for Caerphilly County Borough Council.
There have been 77 letters of objection from 64 residents and one letter of support for the application.
They raised concerns over highways, electric vehicle charging provision, the principle and need for the development, amenity, character and appearance, air quality and health risks, ecology, and drainage.
Councillor Jill Bonetto, who represents Taffs Well, said the amount of traffic at peak times and during shift changes in the area “really is horrendous” and she just sees more congestion being caused by this.
She said she’s not against charging points and as a council they’d like to see more but she doesn’t think this is the right area.
Planning officers recommended approval and said in their report to committee: “Whilst there is concern with regards to the unsustainable location of the site, in that it is located outside of the defined settlement boundary, the provision of an EV charging hub would be of significant benefit to residents of both RCT and Caerphilly as well as any person travelling through the area.
“Furthermore the development would go some way in helping RCT achieve its aims of upscaling EV charging infrastructure in the area to enable the growth of electric vehicle ownership and to help achieve its commitment to becoming a carbon-neutral local authority by 2030 as set out in the council’s electric vehicle charging strategy (2021-2030) and electric vehicle implementation plan.”
They added: “It is noted that the application has attracted a large number of objections from local residents in Caerphilly and these are duly noted; however, it is not considered that the development would have such a significant impact on the character and appearance of the surrounding special landscape area or upon the amenity and privacy of the nearest neighbouring properties that it would warrant the refusal of the application.
“Furthermore the development has not raised any objection from either RCT’s highways and transportation section or the equivalent at Caerphilly County Borough Council.
“Having weighed up all of the relevant issues in this report it is considered that, on balance, the application is acceptable.”
