Larkfield: can M20 traffic support business charging?

Larkfield's busiest counted major road is the M20, at 113,586 vehicles a day in the supplied DfT traffic extract [S4]. Passing vehicles are not a forecast of customers. For your business, test staff demand and the practical drive from the junction before funding equipment; compare workplace charging with a public offer aimed at stopping visitors. Checked October 2026.

Last checked 17 October 2026

Can M20 journeys turn into stops at your Larkfield business?

The M20 carries 113,586 vehicles a day at the busiest counted major-road section in the supplied Larkfield extract for 2025. [S4] That is a reason to investigate access, not to forecast charger sales from a percentage of motorway traffic.

Your workplace or leisure business needs a separate count of vehicles that actually arrive. Check the drive from the junction, any awkward turns and whether drivers have a reason to stay. A charging detour must fit the visit; visibility from a busy road alone says little about that.

Larkfield Leisure Centre is on New Hythe Lane and offers swimming and other exercise facilities. [S12] Nearby Leybourne Lakes Country Park offers walking and water sports. [S13] These are distinct local trip purposes. Compare their visit patterns with staff shifts at your premises rather than treating all visitors as motorway customers. The example below concerns a hypothetical workplace, not those facilities.

How much public charging is listed in Larkfield?

Open Charge Map lists 6 public charging sites in the supplied built-up-area extract, containing 15 devices and 2 rapid sites. The registry is community-maintained and incomplete; these are not official town totals. [S1]

The Census 2021 population is 26,147 using the supplied built-up-area aggregation. [S2] [S3] The resulting density is 2.3 listed sites and 5.7 devices per 10,000 residents. That describes provision, without measuring queues or showing whether employees can charge during working hours.

Survey alternatives near your entrance using the local charging comparison. Record access hours, parking rules and pedestrian routes. A charger that is geographically close but awkward to reach may serve a different customer group.

What could workplace charging cost and earn?

For employees staying on site, assess alternating current (AC) charging before specifying rapid equipment. Kilowatts (kW) indicate power; kilowatt hours (kWh) indicate energy delivered. A single 7 kW workplace charger has a published installation benchmark of £1,400–£2,500. [S8]

An illustration, not a quote: this hypothetical Larkfield office charges staff for use. Days, energy prices, operating charges and commercial shares are assumptions, not local demand evidence.

The benchmark excludes extra groundworks, cable runs and connection. An allowance does not establish their actual cost. Itemise supply works and recurring fees before committing capital. [S9]

For the mid case, 3 × 10 × 250 = 7,500 kWh. Sales are £3,375; electricity is £1,875; deduct £350 to leave £1,150. The part funded host receives £690. Simple return on investment (ROI) = net income ÷ host capital × 100. Payback years = host capital ÷ net income. Income is rounded to pounds.

Fully funded assumes an operator buys and runs the equipment and pays the energy bill, while you provide bays. Part funded shares capital equally and divides surplus after costs. Self funded leaves costs and utilisation risk with you. Long low-use paybacks are a warning to reconsider charging as a paid service.

The figures omit financing, tax, business rates, losses, replacement and parking opportunity costs. No grant is assumed. Test paid demand before treating staff charging requests as income using the payback calculator.

Which workplace grants and site checks apply?

The current WCS ceiling is £500 per socket and the scheme runs until 31 March 2027. [S6] Designated off-street staff or fleet parking and landlord permission are eligibility checks. [S7] Use the grant checker before commissioning works.

New qualifying chargepoints may qualify for a 100% first-year capital allowance. That reduces taxable profits rather than returning your whole investment; check with your accountant. [S10] Public access also brings obligations under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, including transparent charging prices; check with your solicitor. [S11]

Ask your distribution network operator (DNO), which manages local supply connections, about capacity through the installer. Agree maintenance, liability, business rates responsibility and end-of-term removal in writing. Have a solicitor review lease duration, break rights and redevelopment access. Draw the bays and pedestrian routes so parking lost is visible.

How does the town fit within Tonbridge and Malling?

The Tonbridge and Malling page covers the council’s 175 public chargers, including 51 rapid or above, at 1 July 2026. [S5] Larkfield accounts for approximately 19% of the council population in the supplied comparison. [S2]

That population share is not a charger allocation target. DfT counts council-wide devices; Open Charge Map describes a smaller community-listed town inventory. Compare purposes and geography before using either dataset to justify an installation. The South East guide supplies the regional context.

Next step

Prepare arrival patterns, a parking sketch and supply information to get matched with an installer that covers your area.

This site is operated by Piggy Pineapple Ltd. We refer enquiries to installer partners and may be paid a fee. Our owner has shares in at least one partner. We will identify the proposed recipient and disclose any owner shareholding before sharing your details. Read how referrals work.