Progress being made on new Angus mobility hub
Plan to develop a commercial vehicle green fuel stop beside the Forfar bypass is moving forward.
Plans for the £6 million Angus Rural Mobility Hub (ARMH) were revealed by Angus Council in 2022, although these were sited at Brechin Business Park.
A deal for the land could not be finalised, however, and in 2024 the local authority had to find an alternative location.
It finally identified suitable land at Orchardbank Business Park, opposite Angus Council headquarters.
ARMH aims to deliver zero and low carbon transport infrastructure from the nine-hectare site, with funding coming from the Tay Cities Deal.
Designs revealed this year showed the proposed layout of electric, gas and hydrogen storage and refuelling facilities.
Consultants who produced the plan say 14 compressed natural gas and 20 hydrogen truck fills per day are initially proposed, with scope for future expansion.
Commercial EV charging stations will be located on the edge of the site closest to Forfar Loch.
Experts say green commercial vehicles make up a third of the 12,500 vehicles which pass the site daily.
The ARMH design document says: “As a result of its strategic location, (the site) has attracted a number of businesses which cater for vehicles and people on the move.
“These businesses include food and drink services, offices, and EV charging/petrol station facilities.”
A planning application for the transport hub was lodged in April. It followed a consultation which generated only five responses from members of the public.
Transport Scotland, Nature Scot and Scottish Water have no objection to the proposal.
Angus Council is now seeking a contractor to build the facility.
A notice for £4.6m of site infrastructure has been posted on the Public Contracts Scotland procurement portal.
The council hopes to secure at least five tenders for the year-long project.
The planning application for the mobility hub is yet to be determined.