A former petrol station on Oldham road will be rehabilitated into an EV charging Oasis and community hub after gaining approval from Manchester City Council
An EV charging ‘Oasis’ will transform a former petrol station site on the corner of Reliance Street and Oldham Road into a futuristic green forecourt and community hub.
The site’s 16 ultra-rapid chargers will charge a typical EV in as little as ten minutes, compared to 4-6 hours on a 7kW fast charger.
The site will also include commercial space for local businesses and provide accessible and van-suitable spaces, as well as secure charging for electric bicycles.
Biodiversity and sustainability are an integral part of the site’s design
The site has committed to a “net-biodiversity uplift”, with a wildflower garden forming a natural boundary.
Mature trees will surround the charging ring and encourage further wildlife to the site.
The retail building and forecourt roof will feature a biodiverse planting of native British species, specifically selected for the region.
Solar panels will be included to further improve the carbon footprint of the development, by providing clean-energy for the operation of the commercial space.
The chargers will be powered by renewable energy from Octopus Energy, ensuring the move to a totally green transport system is achieved.
Rainwater will be collected and repurposed at the site
Works at the Reliance Street site will be undertaken by Be.EV and will include significant groundworks to remove contamination from the former petrol station. This will be replaced by permeable surfaces that will collect rainwater to be repurposed to water the planted areas and service the commercial space.
Anyone will be able to use the chargers but Be.EV members will be able to access a discounted rate across the company’s rapidly growing network.
Be.EV CEO Asif Ghafoor said: “We’re delighted to launch works for our very first charging Oasis on Reliance Street.
“Our plan for Reliance Street is truly innovative and reflects Be.EV’s ambition to lead the way in reimagining public infrastructure – creating great charging experiences for today and for the future.
“We worked with the talented team at Architect That to design a site that is not only functional but delivers regeneration in the local area, looks fantastic, and responds to the needs of the local community as it offers so much more than just charging.
“These sites will absorb carbon and clean the air whilst providing EV drivers with a calm, green environment to relax in while they’re charging. The site is also designed to maximise the number of charging bays to accelerate equitable access to the future of electric vehicles.
The new EV charging Oasis is part of Manchester’s net zero carbon aims
Executive member for Environment and Transport for Manchester City Council, Cllr Tracey Rawlins said:”As Manchester continues our journey to become a net zero carbon city by 2038, initiatives such as this that increase access to handy charge stations across our city are important to support drivers to make a switch – ensuring electric vehicles are a viable option.
“This is one element of a wide range of sustainable transport options in Manchester that are making it easier than ever for our residents to move away from conventional cars. This includes significant investment in active travel across the city, alongside new walking and cycling routes in the city centre, and a move towards a fully integrated public transport system. Together they underpin our commitment to increasing the number of people who choose to travel by a sustainable means.”
