Orwell Place car park in Dovercourt is one of the first in the UK to scoop a prestigious new national award for electric vehicle charging facilities.

The Park Access EV award, part of the Safer Parking Scheme run by the British Parking Association (BPA), sets high standards for car parks that provide safe, well-managed spaces and ensure that EV charging points are easy to use for everyone, regardless of accessibility needs.

Opened by Tendring District Council (TDC) on the former site of Starlings Garage and the Queens Head Hotel in 2023, Orwell Place includes public toilets and doubles as a community event space, hosting seasonal attractions such as a Christmas market and Easter fair.

Councillor Mick Barry, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Public Realm, said the award demonstrates the council’s commitment to accessibility and sustainability.

“We’re delighted that Orwell Place has achieved the Park Access EV award – one of the first car parks in the UK to do so.

“Orwell Place is a great example of how we’re combining accessibility with modern features like EV charging to meet the needs of our community.

“Supporting electric vehicle charging is part of our wider ambition to create a cleaner, greener Tendring, and we’ll keep investing in improvements that benefit residents and visitors alike.

“Parking is something people tell us matters to them, and we’re determined to keep standards high so our car parks remain safe, welcoming, and well-managed.”

The Park Access EV accreditation enables drivers to identify car parks and EV charging facilities that are safe, well-managed, and accessible for all users.

Naomi Parsons, BPA Area Manager, said only four car parks nationwide have achieved the new accreditation so far.

“Orwell Place car park is a very impressive car park which has successfully met all the criteria for Park Mark, including management and operations,” she said. “This means the car park is also accessible for all users.”