PART of a supermarket car park could be used to provide new electric vehicle charging points.
The Motor Fuel Group, which already operates the filling station at the Morrisons supermarket in Cwmbran, has put forward plans to create an EV or electric vehicle charging zone.
It would be located in a block of the car park, opposite the existing filling station, adjacent to the mini roundabout at the entrance to the supermarket, from St David’s Road.
The area would include six electric vehicle charging bays, served by three charging points, while four jet wash bays would also be provided in the area.
The firm, in its application to Torfaen Borough Council for planning permission, has highlighted the UK is lagging behind the government’s ambition for a minimum of 300,000 public chargers by 2030 across the country.
It quotes latest available figures, from January this year, and states: “There were 87,796 public electric vehicle charging devices installed in the UK, an increase of just 1,775 since October 2025.
“At the current pace, just 116,196 would be installed by 2030, with the target of 300,000 not being met until 30 years later. To meet the target in time, 13,263 chargers would need to be installed each quarter between now and 2030 – approximately a 650 per cent increase over build rate.”
The firm, which describes itself as the UK’s largest independent forecourt operator with over 900 sites, states its ambition is to roll-out an extensive supply of EV charging facilities at existing Morrisons sites to diversify their existing offer and “to make it as easy to charge your vehicle as re-fuelling with petrol or diesel.”
It also states uneven distribution of charging points is understood to be a deterrent to the take up of electric vehicles and highlights the Cwmbran site would benefit drivers using the surrounding strategic highway network.
The proposals will be Equalities Act compliant, with dropped kerbs and other measures to ensure equal ease of access for all.
The plans also include the installation of a plant room and substation as well a canopy and air/water and vacuum units and bays and other associated forecourt works.
The plans are being considered by the planning department.