BP Marks & Spencer garage in Woodley to get more EV points

Shepherd's Hill is one of the main junctions of the A4, connecting Reading to Maidenhead.

The junction links Pitts Lane in Earley with Reading Road in Woodley, and is home to the Shepherds House pub, Majestic Wine, Wenzels Bakery and a Marks & Spencer Food Hall.

There is also a BP fuel station with a sales area run by Marks & Spencer, officially known as the Sonning Cutting Filling Station.

Earlier this summer, the company Chargemaster Ltd applied to install three electric vehicle (EV) chargers to serve six parking spaces with supporting infrastructure on site.

Marks and Spencer fuel station could look very different soon

The project means customers will lose an automatic car wash but gain access to more EV charging capacity and two jet car wash bays.

The plan was assessed by a Wokingham Borough Council planning officer who judged the project to be acceptable. 

They wrote: “Whilst the proposed jet wash bays have the potential
to generate some noise, the site has an established commercial use and has previously accommodated car wash operations.

“As such, no significant change in the character of the site is anticipated.

“Given the size and location of the proposed development within the existing filling station, the established commercial use of the site, and the considerable separation distances to residential dwellings, it is considered unlikely that the proposal would result in a harmful impact on neighbouring amenity through noise or disturbance.”

The plan was approved on July 28. 

You can view the application by typing reference 260798 into the council's planning portal.