Stockton council approves 12 ultra-rapid chargers for Portrack Retail Park with option for 16-bay hub

Stockton-on-Tees council has approved plans by E.ON Drive Infrastructure UK and Apsley Galliard Conn to install 12 ultra-rapid charging bays under a canopy at Portrack Retail Park, alongside a substation, fencing and kiosk. The scheme will reduce parking from 51 to 32 spaces, with a second phase potentially adding four drive-through bays to reach 16 chargers in total.

Why it matters: The approval signals a major retail-park charging deployment in the North East and shows E.ON scaling ultra-rapid infrastructure with a phased build-out model. Contractors and equipment suppliers will watch for tender details as the project moves to construction.