Most visits to a charging hub are made by drivers who are already on the road nearby. Evidence that shows this properly keeps the transport case simple and proportionate.
Three kinds of trip
- Pass-by trips stop on the way, from traffic already using the road outside.
- Diverted trips make a short detour from a nearby route.
- New trips would not be on the network at all without the hub.
Why it matters
Only new trips add traffic to the wider network. If most visits are pass-by or diverted, the effect on nearby junctions is small, and the assessment can focus where it matters: the access and the forecourt.
The evidence
Survey data for charging hubs is still limited compared with long-established uses. Good evidence combines what is available in TRICS and similar databases, data from comparable operating sites, and the location itself. A hub beside a busy A road behaves very differently from a destination site in a town centre.
What councils focus on
- Queues: vehicles waiting to charge must never back onto the highway
- Pedestrian safety around the forecourt
- Access for larger vehicles where they are expected
- How long people stay, and how quickly bays turn over
The ripple
Well-placed hubs give residents without driveways somewhere to charge, on routes people already drive. That is worth setting out in the application too.
General information, not advice on a specific site. Policy and guidance correct as of October 2026.