Blyth: would another rapid charger add useful capacity?

Blyth has 7 rapid sites among its public charging locations listed on Open Charge Map in the supplied dataset [S3]. Your business needs a specific access or visitor need to justify another rapid unit. Port-related work and training visits provide local context, but only observed stays and a surveyed connection cost can support an income forecast. Checked October 2026.

Last checked 17 October 2026

Where is the charging gap if Blyth already lists rapid sites?

Blyth’s supplied built-up-area snapshot contains 12 public charging sites listed on Open Charge Map, comprising 29 devices and 7 rapid sites [S3]. With 39,731 Census residents, the calculated densities are 3.0 sites and 7.3 devices per 10,000 people: count divided by residents, multiplied by 10,000 and rounded [S1], [S2].

Those figures point towards checking missing access or stay types, rather than assuming rapid equipment is absent. Open Charge Map is community-maintained and lists fewer points than DfT’s council count. Its snapshot is not the official town total. Inspect nearby locations, tariffs and restricted access through the local charging tool before drawing a catchment.

Which journeys and visitors could use your premises?

The A189 is Blyth’s busiest counted major road in the supplied dataset, with 51,666 daily vehicles in 2025 [S4]. Road traffic is a screening measure, not a count of customers who will stop and buy energy. Check the approach to your entrance and whether a driver can return conveniently to the original route.

Port of Blyth describes offshore energy, logistics and training services, together with a local offshore supply chain [S11]. Energy Central Campus locates its Learning Hub on Quay Road in Blyth [S12]. These give you specific business and training journeys to investigate without inventing visitor numbers.

For an engineering supplier, ask visiting customers about stop length and charging needs. For training or office parking, examine longer stays separately. Existing rapid alternatives may already serve brief stops; a secure workplace socket can answer a different requirement. Use the office charging page when separating staff and public access.

Who would benefit, and can rapid charging pay back?

A hypothetical engineering supplier with public visitor parking can test the following 50 kW direct-current (DC) charger. Kilowatts (kW) measure power and kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure energy. The site power tool helps frame the supply questions.

This is an illustration, not a quote. Tariffs, sessions, running costs and revenue shares are assumptions.

The published main supply upgrade range is £40,000–£150,000; using its lower end does not establish the cost at your address [S6]. An adverse connection offer can move this project outside the table’s capital range. Groundworks and cable routes must be itemised so installation and infrastructure are not counted twice [S7].

Annual delivered energy = daily sessions × 30 × 365. Sales = energy × £0.65. Operating net = energy × (£0.65 − £0.25) − £2,000.

Fully funded assumes the provider pays, installs, owns and operates; you provide land and take a sales share, with no host capital here. Part funded uses a £37,500 host contribution and 60% of operating net. Self funded uses £75,000 host capital and all operating net.

Simple return on investment (ROI) = annual host net ÷ host capital × 100; payback years = host capital ÷ host net. High self funded use produces £41,800: dividing by the assumed £30,000 unit-only cost suggests 139.3% ROI. Including the £40,000 upgrade and £5,000 works gives 55.7% ROI and £75,000 ÷ £41,800 = 1.8 years instead.

The illustration excludes VAT effects, grants, tax, borrowing, replacement and parking income forgone. It assumes sufficient demand throughout the year. Stress-test a higher connection bill and fewer sessions using the income and payback calculator.

Which grants and permissions need checking before a proposal?

WCS supports eligible sockets by up to £500 each until 31 March 2027 [S8]. Do not deduct it from a public rapid business case without establishing eligibility. Qualifying chargepoint spending may receive first-year capital allowances; check the position with your accountant [S9].

Ask the distribution network operator (DNO) for a capacity assessment and the council for a planning review. Retain accessible routes, service access and enough ordinary parking. Assign the public operating duties in the charging regulations to a named contractual party [S10]. Your solicitor should review land permissions, lease length, insurance, liability, business rates, redevelopment breaks and equipment removal at exit.

What does the Northumberland comparison add?

At county level, Northumberland had 790 public chargers and 160 rapid devices on 1 July 2026 [S5]. Blyth’s population is approximately 12% of the county in the supplied comparison [S1], [S2]. Directory sites are not comparable with official devices as a percentage share. Use the North East overview to keep the regional context alongside your site survey.

What should you prepare next?

Record visitor stays, access hours and available supply, then get matched with an installer that covers your area.

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