ELECTRIC vehicle manufacturing giant Tesla has tabled a planning application to take over a former Porsche garage in Ferndown.
Tesla submitted plans on January 19 to convert the site in New Road, Ferndown, into a large showroom and service centre with electric vehicle superchargers.
If approved, the site would be the first Tesla Supercharger in Dorset.
Visual proposals include provision to install an illuminated totem sign at the site entrance, fabric banner flags on new flag poles, charging signs mounted to side elevation and more.
Plans also show customer parking, a wash bay and charging stations.
The current Porsche centre moved the short distance from New Road to Ferndown Industrial Estate last year due to the requirement of more space, leaving the former site empty despite objection from the town council who had noise and ecological concerns.
- Read more: New Porsche site taking shape for opening
The idea of a Tesla service centre has already drawn some early praise from residents. Nigel Stockley commented: “Wholeheartedly support this. Great use for Porsche's old site and gives the local community a much needed and requested facility as the nearest one currently is Winchester and an 80-mile round trip.”
A resident on social media was equally pleased. They said: “It will help make visiting the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas easier and may help boost visitor numbers and local tourism. Local residents would typically charge from home but more rapid chargers are always welcome, and some Tesla sites are even opening up to non-Tesla vehicles.
“This sales centre is likely to help make the south coast one of the most electric vehicle dense areas of the country and that's simply brilliant.”
The need for greater electric vehicle facilities was heightened in November 2020, as part of the Government's environmental plans. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the sale of new petrol and diesel cars would be phased out by 2030 and that all new cars and vans would be zero emission by 2035.
Members of the public can comment on the plans until Thursday, February 17. The application can be found on Dorset Council’s planning website by searching P/ADV/2022/00351.
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