Ultra-rapid charging network Fastned has opened a new hub in Durham, just off the A1, supporting the EV transition in the North East.

The Forrest Park hub initially has the capacity to charge eight EVs at any one time

The Forrest Park hub is located just north of Darlington, less than a two-minute drive off the A1 at the Aycliffe interchange. The site initially has the capacity to charge eight EVs at any one time, with space to expand to 10 charging bays as demand increases.

Fastned now has 25 hubs in the UK and the new site is its second in County Durham, where the company worked with the council to identify the site.

The new charging hub features Fastned’s illuminated yellow wings, which help EV drivers to locate the site easily while also reassuring drivers yet to make the EV switch that ultra-rapid charging is available to them.

Drivers charging at the Forrest Park hub will have access to a wide range of amenities, including KFC, Spar and McDonald’s. Fastned’s ultra-rapid chargers also offer a range of payment methods.

The charge point operator’s charging network spans the length and breadth of the county with many charging hubs in the region, including Barnard Castle, Sunderland, Washington and Newcastle.

Fastned was also rated the UK’s best en-route EV charging network by drivers for Zapmap’s latest study.

Tom Hurst, UK country manager at Fastned, said: “County Durham has supported us from early on when we opened our first hub in the county at Barnard Castle in 2022. I’m delighted to be building on this success and opening our second charging hub in County Durham to give drivers in the north east the charging experience and service they deserve.”

Councillor Mark Wilkes, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, added: “We are pleased that County Durham has been chosen as the location to open another charging hub. The additional electric vehicle charge points align with our aim to make electric charging more accessible across the county, where we have secured significant funding for electric vehicle charge points and continue to roll them out across the county.

“The new hub also supports our Climate Emergency Response Plan, through which we are working towards reducing carbon emissions across the county. Travel is a key part of this, including giving people the option to make their journeys more sustainable.”