EV charging park planned for Tuam

First of its kind for the area

A NEW standalone charging park for electric cars and trucks is earmarked for a site on the edge of Tuam.

The land close to the roundabout for the Tuam bypass and M17 motorway is listed on the application as owned by Supermac’s Ireland Ltd.

Planning permission for the development on the 1.4-hectare greenfield site, close to the Manwar business park, has just been lodged with Galway County Council.

Hall Power Ltd, which is based in Co Cork, is seeking permission for 12 new electric car parking spaces with six electric charging points. The development would also include provision for two HGV spaces.

Increasing demand for EV charging points

Thousands of cars pass through the M17 roundabout each day and there is increasing demand for public EV charging points. Recent figures show a huge rise in the sales of new EV cars in Galway alone, which as of October, are up over 80 per cent on the same period last year.

According to the CSO (Central Statistics Office) there are just under 5,000 battery electric cars privately licensed in Co Galway and given the incentives for electric cars and rising fuel prices, this is set to continue to increase.

A small service building that would home toilet facilities is also proposed for the development as is an external waiting area. A new access road and upgrading works to the site entrance are also planned.

Ten years ago, part of the site was mooted for a possible large Plaza-style drive-thru service station but the planning application was withdrawn.

County planners are considering the current application for the charging park and are expected to issue a decision in early December.