THE UK's largest forecourt provider is seeking planning permission to install an electric vehicle charging zone next to Morrisons in Newport.

It would mean reducing the number of parking bays.

Motor Fuel Group's application includes the creation of electric vehicle charging bays, a sub station enclosure, a low voltage panel and a meter cabinet next to the supermarket on South Street.

The company's plans would remove 13 existing bays in the supermarket's car park and a dead tree next to the Morrisons petrol station.

There are currently 330 parking spaces and roughly 17 spaces for blue badge holders at the existing site.

Six electric vehicle charging bays would be created along with three Alpitronic HYC 300 chargers.

The sub station enclosure, low voltage panel and meter cabinet would be installed adjacent to the petrol station.

No public comments have yet been made on the application though Island Roads has submitted a Highways Representation.

Neil Troughton, development control manager at Island Roads, commented: "From a highway perspective, the only material consideration would be the loss of car parking within the site for all users and whether this loss would result in a significant impact on the surrounding highway network due to displaced demand for car parking and/or whether the proposed development would have an impact on highway safety."

He also claimed however that in this case there does not appear to be planning policy support for requiring a minimum provision of parking space.

The Highways Representation states there is "alternative public parking provision" available which could cater to possible displaced demand.

Traffic generation will not change as a result of the proposed development and nor will the proposal significantly impact the capacity of the highway or project network, the document adds.

The submission expresses no overall objection to the application.