A PLAN to install rapid electric vehicle charging stations at Booths supermarket in Settle has been rejected by North Yorkshire Council.

The council judged that due to where two of the four charging points were to be located they could damage the roots of two protected and “high-quality” mature trees in a 'green buffer area' which outweighed the benefits of the 'moderate' scheme.

InstaVolt Ltd was behind the application which would have seen 160kW rapid charging points installed as well as a substation and feeder cabinet.

Settle Town Council supported the planning application and said it would welcome the addition of new EV chargers in the market town.

Two of the charging stations would have been built on six existing car parking spaces; with the remaining on two parcels of land on the south side of a triangular amenity area planted with trees and shrubs and separating the car park from the road.

The council’s tree officer said planting at the site had matured to form a “valuable green buffer” of mixed deciduous trees and shrubs, and that two mature trees, a beech and sycamore, could be damaged by the proposals as well as a maple tree.

He added: “The trees are protected by virtue of the conservation area and provide high amenity along Kirkgate and within the Booths car park area.”

A separate North Yorkshire Council officer wrote in a report recommending refusal, that the authority asked for amendments so there would be no adverse impact on the trees. However, no agreement was reached with the developer to address the council’s concerns.

The planning officer's report states: "While the benefits of expanding the provision of EV charging points for public use is acknowledged, taking account of the limited scale of the proposal and the potential loss of mature trees which also serve to address climate change, the benefit associated with this scheme is accorded moderate weight. It is therefore considered that the public benefit is not sufficient to outweigh the identified harm to the heritage asset in this case.

"The principle of development is supported. However, the development presents a significant risk of damage to, or loss of, the category A trees which are valuable to the setting and contribute positively to the character and appearance of the conservation area. The public benefits of the proposal are not considered to outweigh the harm to the conservation area."

The proposal: "fails to respond adequately to the context, to maintain local distinctiveness and would harm the character and appearance of the Settle Conservation Area contrary to Craven Local Plan policies."