Natural gas refuelling ‘not on radar’ of property developers

Commercial property developers have been urged to consider the need for natural gas refuelling facilities in both new-build and existing logistics parks situated close to arterial roads.

Natural gas and biogas supplier Gasrec is predicting that there will be 39,000 gas-powered HGVs on UK roads within eight years and developers needed to consider the infrastructure required to support demand.

Gasrec chief commercial officer James Westcott said: “Growing numbers of commercial vehicle operators, including supermarkets, parcels carriers and logistics fleets, are turning to natural gas to reduce their carbon footprint and meet the government’s voluntary target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from HGVs by 15 per cent by 2025.”

Westcott said that to meet this demand refuelling infrastructure in the UK must grow, and Gasrec was “actively seeking development opportunities” in locations close to where the biggest commercial vehicle fleets are based.

“When we talk to developers we typically find natural gas refuelling is not even on their radar; but the potential is huge. Adding an open-access gas refuelling station will dramatically increase the attractiveness of a site, both to potential occupants and the local planning authority.”