Trafford Centre readies for £11.5m EV charging hub
A former petrol station will get a green makeover, with the shopping centre submitting plans to nearly quadruple its current number of ultra rapid chargers for electric vehicles.
The Trafford Centre has outlined ambitions to build a charging hub, car showroom, charging lounge, drive-thru Starbucks, and digital advertising display with a hydroponic living wall on the 1.2-acre site by the mall’s Marks and Spencer.
The Starbucks would be 1,840 sq ft, while the showroom and lounge would be 4,000 sq ft across two floors. This would give drivers a place to relax while utilising the 47 ultra rapid chargers that are expected to be installed. The Trafford Centre already has 18 of these chargers, so the additional number will see it grow its ultra rapid charger count to 65.
Factoring in occupier fit-outs, the Trafford Centre said the plans represent a £11.5m investment.
It hopes to start work on the scheme early next year – provided planning permission can be secured from Trafford Council.
Chapman Taylor is the architect for the scheme, with Profestus Town Planning assisting the shopping centre with the application. Mott Macdonald, BWB Consulting, and The Traffic, Transport, and Highway Consultancy round out the project team.
Matthew Anderson, development director at the centre’s asset manager Pradera Lateral, said: “We have worked closely together to design a scheme that complements both Trafford Centre and the local area, is forwarding thinking, secures biodiversity improvements and supports more sustainable forms of travel to and from the centre.”
He continued: “Our proposals will deliver a further 47 ultra rapid chargers (250kW), taking the total at the centre to 65, which is expected to make Trafford Centre the largest ultra rapid charging hub in Europe.”
Trafford Council executive member for climate change, Cllr Aidan Williams, also weighed in.
“The council supports increasing the use of electric vehicles and the transition towards a low-carbon transport system,” Williams said.
“The proposals at the Trafford Centre will be subject to planning permission, but if approved the development will help to respond to the pressing climate emergency and ensures Trafford is at the forefront of addressing this through the creation of what is expected to be Europe’s largest electric vehicle ultra rapid charging hub.”
As of publication, the planning documents for the scheme had not appeared on Trafford Council’s planning portal.
47 x 250kW chargers! 11mW of power is an insane amount for a car park. I’m assuming these don’t run at full power at the same time.
By Anon
what’s the point? EV cars are finished, the technology is awful.
By Dave G
they’ve gone big on the digital advertising signage, perhaps overload
By TJL
‘EVs are finished’ !😂Bless. Some people can only see what’s immediately in front of their nose.’Computers..they’ll never take off..okay maybe one or two’ These people have always existed and I suppose they always will.
By Anonymous
But will I be able to get a lotto ticket and a Gingsters cheese and onion pasty like in the old garage?
By Bob Dawson
Ev road charges use massive amount of electricity and if there is (reported) 60 charge points the income grid will be overwhelmed and charging times slowed right down – they are also very expensive with 80-90p/kw – far more than the diesel equivalent from Costco which is just round the corner
By Stuart wood
A 50kw public charger can cost 85 pence per kWh. This equates to around 22 mpg, how will this persuade people to drive an Ev?
By Stuart wood
Starbucks drive thru seems a little redundant given there is one across the road at Barton Square?
By Anonymous
Starbucks Drive Thru on opposite sides of the road are common across the country, not redundant at all
By Anonymous
I used to charge there 5 years ago. Free! Very good value for money I thought.
EVs should do over 3mls per kWh. At 50p per kWh that’s a similar cost to petrol.
Charging at home is only 7p.
Average charge rate likely to be under 10 kW most of the time. And V2G will enable people to sell energy back to balance the demand
By Ian B