Fastned and Places for London secure planning permission for a new EV charging hub at TfL’s Hatton Cross station car park.
Following approval by the London Borough of Hillingdon, the hub is the first of five planned by the public/private joint venture between Places for London and Fastned, aiming to improve access to charging infrastructure in London and across the UK.
London already has around 193,000 plug-in electric cars and vans with projections to reach between 1 to 1.4 million by 2030 – around half of the car and van fleet in the capital. As a result, some 40,000 to 60,000 chargers, including up to 4,000 rapid points, are needed. To date, it has 21,600 chargepoints.
The Hatton Cross hub will have 12 ultra-rapid charging bays all of which are powered by 100% certified renewable energy.
In addition, the hubs are sheltered by Fastned’s yellow solar canopy, which is covered by CCTV, making charging comfortable and safe for everyone in all weather.
Hub customers will have 24/7 customer support via app and phone, available in multiple languages. Toilet facilities will also be available for hub users.
A proportion of revenue from each of the first five hubs will go towards community projects, and hubs delivered through the joint venture will be accessible, with extra wide bays, and two bays will be fully accessible through the latest British Standards Institution’s guidance on accessible charging infrastructure.
The partnership also said the Hillingdon site will also provide opportunities for work experience in collaboration with London’s schools, and broader economic opportunities will be realised by helping small to medium enterprises enter the market and upskilling more people to support London’s sustainable EV transition
Emma Hatch, Head of Development at Places for London, said:
“Like the Mayor of London and the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are dedicated to taking the necessary steps to ensure London is working towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.
“This is a great example of how we, as part of a public body, can work with the private sector to bring about the infrastructure London needs. We now look forward to drivers getting to charge up with ease at the hub by early 2026.”
Tom Hurst, Fastned UK Country Director, said:
“This is another big step forward for London’s EV charging network, and is a testament to the efforts of Fastned and Places for London. The swift planning decision by London Borough of Hillingdon shows real commitment to the EV transition for the borough. It’s pragmatic decisions like these that allow us to roll out our high quality charging network across the capital and beyond, and to give London EV drivers the service that they have been waiting for.”
Mete Coban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy, said:
“Rapid charging hubs like this are particularly vital for key workers across the capital to get where they need to be fast.
“The Mayor and I will continue supporting partners including Places for London and Fastned to meet his goal of more than 40,000 EV chargers across the capital by 2030.”
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said:
“We’re committed to creating a greener future for our residents and are pleased to see the number of ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging points increasing in the borough to help reduce pollution and support sustainable travel.”
Oliver Lord, UK Head of Clean Cities Campaign, said:
“It’s fantastic this venture is delivering so quickly and I hope other cities are taking note. These charging hubs, when priced affordably, will ease pressure on councils by giving EV owners access to ultra-fast and ultra-modern points without needing to pile them all on local streets.”
Image courtesy of Fastned/Places for London
