The building of an ambitious three-story parking facility specifically for vans on a former park and ride in North Swindon can go ahead.

ILP UK Propco Ltd, which stands for Infinium Logistics has been given the green light to construct the building specifically as a storage area for vans and in particular electric vehicles.

The facility will feature charging points for vehicles and solar panels on the top deck to provide not only shade but also generates at least some of the energy used in recharging the vans parked there.

The three-story structure would be around 12.5m in total height, and clad in galvanised steel panels in grey, light green and dark green.

There will be welfare facilities for staff and users, and the permission includes single-storey commercial building on the site, which will most likely be used as a café also accessible to members of the public. They will also be able to use some fast-charging facilities for their vehicles.

Infinitum Logistics will be branded in large letters across the first floor. The company says the plan is to offer commercial fleets, especially of delivery companies, a storage facility and help increase the switch of such fleets from internal combustion engines to electric motors.

The company said: “The proposal regenerates the dilapidated area to provide dedicated van storage and charging facilities for existing and new businesses operating within Swindon.

“The electric vehicles stored could be vans for last-mile delivery operators, utility companies, service providers or any other van operation where overnight charging and secure storage is required. “

The company’s application made much of the need to help delivery companies transition their fleets: “Unless new build warehousing is specifically designed for last-mile delivery van storage, most speculatively built and existing industrial units are not designed with sufficient external yard space to support this type of operation.

“Currently many van operators’ employees take their van home at the end of their shift, this dedicated facility could positively enhance local residential areas, potentially reducing the number of ‘white vans’ parked on streets overnight.

“With the growing e-commerce market and shift to electric delivery vehicles, the need for these dedicated facilities will increase due to the inability to charge company vehicles at the driver’s home.”

It added that the north Swindon site: “Is ideally located for this purpose and will not only allow businesses in Swindon to transition to zero carbon by the use of electric vehicles, but will also offer car and van charging facilities to the public.”

In approving the scheme, Swindon Borough Council planners said: “This would make efficient use of an existing vacant brownfield site, and would offer economic, social and environmental benefits and significant sustainability credentials in the provision of low carbon/renewable energy infrastructure and contributing towards the borough’s carbon neutral targets.”