FAQs

The simple answer is yes.

Kier Property welcomed the previous Government’s announcement that requires new homes and buildings to have EV charging points. This helps address the chronic shortage in the provision for EV charging as we get ever closer to the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030.

The Government’s focus on the delivery of EV charging points reinforces the need to deliver publicly available charging points. This is underlined by the fact that the UK’s domestic transport sector was responsible for almost 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2023.

In March 2025, a report from the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament found that nearly half of all public charge points are in London and the South East of England.

As such, the need is even more pressing to ensure that rural communities are not left behind. Unless there is a significant increase in the rollout of publicly available EV charging points, we could see "charging blackspots" in small towns and rural areas. It is therefore imperative that we move to increase the provision of public charging points with projects like this one.

What happens if you need to charge your EV while you’re making a journey? What about the existing 25 million homes, the vast majority of which lack the provision to charge an EV? What about two car families and those with no off-street parking? It cannot be expected that all will be able to install the necessary home charging points.

We need to make charging an EV as simple and convenient as refuelling a petrol or diesel vehicle. With the proposed renewable energy park, we can ensure that this corner of Central Bedfordshire will not become a “charging blackspot” and get left behind as the rest of the country moves forward into the future.

Yes.  The UK Government has set a target of reaching 45GW of solar generated energy by 2030.  Currently around 18GW of energy is generated from solar panels across the UK and therefore more solar farms are needed to me this target.

Although our energy system is already being decarbonised, it is expected that the demand for electricity will grow in the coming years due to the expected increase in heat pumps and electric vehicles across the UK.

The Tempsford site presents a unique opportunity for this as there are no environmental or landscape designations on site and the land is near to an existing grid connection.

Additionally, at present, there are insufficient charging facilities locally and those that exist typically comprise low-power chargers. The demand for EVs will increase rapidly over the coming years, especially as the UK prepares for a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and small vans by 2030.

Research shows that rural areas are at risk of becoming ‘charging blackspots’ as there has been a focus on providing EV charging facilities in cities and large towns. This project plugs a regional gap in charging facilities and helps re-balance the current bias towards more populated areas. In addition, the proposed EV charging station is well located adjacent to the A1 for passing traffic.

No. This is a common misconception about solar that the panels can only generate energy when it is sunny. Solar panels absorb energy from the light spectrum visible to us and wavelengths that can pass through cloud. So, solar panels still work and generate energy on cloudy days.

Solar farms are low maintenance. When it comes to keeping solar panels clean, rainwater does the trick to wash away any dirt. Nevertheless, as part of the ongoing management of the solar panels, they will be washed every now and again to keep them clean.

The number of vehicles that the renewable energy park can charge will depend on the size of the battery in the vehicle, what range the driver wishes to add and the type of charger used. To give an example based on current, reasonable estimates, a 60 kWh battery charged to 80% using an ultra-rapid charger would take around 10-15 minutes.

Using a rapid charger, this may take 40 minutes. This level of charge would provide an electric vehicle with a range of roughly 144-192 miles.

The time taken to charge an electric vehicle will depend on the size of the battery in the vehicle, what range the driver wishes to add and the type of charger used. Home chargers may take many hours to charge a vehicle, although this is often overnight when the vehicle isn’t being used.

The rapid and ultra-rapid chargers of the type proposed for the renewable energy park can charge most vehicles much quicker than this – typically between 10-40 minutes. Ultra-rapid chargers can charge at up to “1,000mph”, i.e. they can add range to the vehicle at a rate of 1,000 miles for each hour they are being charged – equivalent to 100 miles every 6 minutes.

There is a growing second-hand EV market. In 2024, 188,382 second hand electric cars were sold in the UK, an increase of 57.4% on the previous year. In February 2025, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported that the demand for used EVs has risen to record levels.

The move to electric vehicles in the UK (and around the world) is largely related to efforts to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, which is released by petrol and diesel (fossil-fuel) cars.

Replacing a petrol or diesel car with an electric vehicle is often seen as a way of reducing a driver’s carbon footprint.

Electric vehicles are also being promoted in towns and cities to reduce air pollution (there are no exhaust emissions from electric vehicles).

The EV charging station is intended for use in the local area rather than being a destination charging point.  Further discussions will be held with the Highways Authority to ensure that any traffic movements on local roads have been considered and will be acceptable.

The project would be carefully designed to minimise effects on existing wildlife, both diurnal and nocturnal. In fact, the project will deliver a net gain in biodiversity on the site.  That means that new habitats will be created and existing ones enhanced. All this will be evidenced and detailed in the ecological assessment that will be submitted alongside the final planning application.

While the opening times are not set yet at this early stage in the process, the small café/kiosk element will have typical trading hours (perhaps 7am to 7pm, seven days per week) although the EV charging element may be open for longer. This will be agreed at a later date with Central Bedfordshire Council, should the project obtain planning consent.

The solar farm itself does not generate any noise during operation, EVs are quiet by their nature and the infrastructure associated with the substation and battery energy storage systems do not generate high levels of nose and will be located away from residential properties. As such, the project would cause little additional noise for the local community during operation.  Any potential noise effects during construction would be managed through appropriate management plans to be agreed with the Local Authority.

The project is expected to operate for 40 years, after which time the scheme is expected to be decommissioned.

In July 2019, Central Bedfordshire Council unanimously supported a proposal to prioritise responding to climate change. Then in September 2024, the Council endorsed its refreshed Sustainability Plan (2023 -2030) which outlines the steps for the Council to become carbon neutral by 2030. It commits the Council to lead by example in investing in sustainability while working with residents, businesses and key partners to do the same.

The Development Plan for the area consists of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2015-2035. The Local Plan is the key strategic planning document for the Council to guide and support the delivery of new infrastructure, homes and jobs.  It sets out the long-term vision and objectives for the area, what is going to happen, where, and how this will be achieved and delivered over the plan period.

The most important planning policy for the type of development proposed is Policy CC2 (Sustainable Energy Development) which states that the Council will positively support energy development which are:

• Located in suitable areas where negative impacts can be most effectively mitigated through design, scale and siting of the project;

• Located and designed so as to have no unacceptable adverse impacts on the historic environment, sensitive landscapes and townscapes, noise, pollution and harm to visual amenity and can provide environmental benefits; and

• Can demonstrate engagement with affected stakeholders, including communities, in order to understand issues for objection and seek to address them.

Policy CC2 therefore sets out a positive position towards the deployment of renewable energy development which the scheme can derive support from.

Policy T5 (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles) of the adopted Local Plan expects new developments to provide active charging points, passive provision such as cabling and electricity supply for future demand, or contributions for future installation as demand increases on residential developments, supermarkets or retail uses, employment sites, educational facilities, and other large-scale trip generating uses. 

The scheme would therefore make an important contribution towards electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the local area and the identified need at a national level.

At the end of its expected 40-year life, the Scheme would be fully decommissioned, namely the solar farm, EV charging infrastructure and battery storage facility and associated infrastructure.

The detailed decommissioning arrangements would be expected to be included in the list of planning conditions associated with any future planning permission.

Nearer the time of decommissioning, a decision would be made as to how much of the underground infrastructure should be taken away, given that the environmental disturbance may be significant if it is to be removed after 40 years.

That said, the project is completely reversible, and all aspects could be fully removed if that is the preferred option at the time.

No – this project is financed entirely by private capital.

No. The Tempsford Renewable Energy Park is located in Flood Zone 1 as designated by the Environment Agency. This is the category at least risk of flooding.

Nevertheless, the proposal will be informed by discussions with the local Flood Authority and a flood risk assessment will be submitted as part of the planning application which will ensure that there is no additional flood risk at the site or in the wider area.

Battery Energy Storage Systems, known as BESS, are safe and are installed with a number of safety features. For example, the batteries would meet recognised fire safety standards and would be fitted with automatic fire suppression technology.

Yes. Kier Property is currently working hard to prepare their emerging proposal and will hold a public consultation in the Autumn. Ahead of the launch of the public consultation, Kier will contact every household in Tempsford to invite them to view the draft proposal and provide feedback to help inform the final details before a planning application is submitted. Once the application is submitted to the local planning authority, Central Bedfordshire Council will hold a formal consultation on the application.