St. Mary's Retail Park surges ahead with EV charging hub

Property investment and development company Glenbrook Investments has partnered with Manchester-based charging network Be.EV to install four new ultra-rapid electric car chargers at St Mary’s Retail Park in Rochdale. 

The eight bay charging hub is equipped with cutting-edge Kempower chargers, which can charge a typical EV to 80% in as little as 20 minutes, compared to 4-6 hours on a 7kW fast charger. Thanks to the site's two 550kW power banks, the site is ten times faster than the chargers currently available in Rochdale. 

The state-of-the-art chargers keep track of the charge level for each vehicle and use load balancing technology to distribute power to those that require it the most. Each charger is equipped with a QR code, which allows drivers to monitor their charge levels from their mobile whilst shopping at nearby Carpetright and Dunelm Mill. 

Switched on and now available for use, the project sees Glenbrook join the largest public EV charging network that is connecting communities across the North of England and boasts impressive reliability (99.6% operational availability across the entire network).

The installation will bring benefits to both local residents and commuters passing through Manchester. The retail park is conveniently located just off the A58, approximately 10 minutes away from the M62 and en route to Rochdale Infirmary.

Asif Ghafoor, CEO and co-founder of Be.EV said: “This project truly levels up the local area and will help speed up Rochdale’s transition to electric vehicles. EV ownership in the borough has been slow compared to the rest of Greater Manchester, but our work with Glenbrook will help change that. 

“Retail sites are the ideal location for high quality charging facilities, and Glenbrook really understands the value of providing reliable EV chargers for drivers. Other retail developers take note, this is the gold standard of approach.”

Mike Armstrong, Property Manager at Glenbrook added: “This development not only supports the tenants of the retail park but also contributes to the local community. By facilitating the expansion of essential sustainable infrastructure, Glenbrook Investments aligns with its commitment to driving positive change through its investment initiatives.

“The introduction of the ultra-rapid charging hub at St. Mary's Retail Park marks a significant milestone in Rochdale's efforts to promote electric vehicle adoption and support the transition to sustainable transportation.”