Tesla to take over Trafford Centre car park
A facility comprising a showroom, delivery and collection hub, and 18 electric vehicle charging points is proposed on a 470-space car park that previously served the recently closed Debenhams store at the retail complex.
According to the application, the electric vehicle firm is to use the Regent 14 car park at the Trafford Centre for 12 months while it looks for a permanent home at the shopping centre.
The car park is located off Bridgewater Circle on the west side of the mall.
The delivery hub is to feature a 13,000 sq ft showroom as a well as a test drive area. In addition, part of the car park would house 18 supercharger ports, doubling the Trafford Centre’s electric vehicle charging provision.
The EV charging spaces would remain in place and operational after the expiry of Tesla’s one-year lease on the car park, according to the planning consultancy Barton Willmore.
The car park is underutilised following the closure of Debenhams
The scheme, which is already semi-operational, will allow the Trafford Centre to “secure vital revenue while a new occupier is sought for the vacant Debenhams unit”, Barton Willmore added.
Once fully up and running, the Tesla hub will allow cars to be delivered, stored, and prepared for collection.
If needed, the facility could be closed during December, allowing the site to be used as a car park in order to provide additional capacity during the Trafford Centre’s busiest period.
Architect Leach Rhodes Walker designed the showroom structure and TTHC is the transport consultant for the project.
Tesla is to relocate its existing delivery hub at Manchester Airport to the Trafford Centre. The airport site is required for use as a car park once more as travel restrictions begin to lift.
