Manchester’s ‘Oasis’ gets green light

court roof will feature a biodiverse planting of native British species, specifically selected for the region.

Mature trees will surround the charging ring and dominate the design, bringing with them further animal and birdlife to the site.

The chargers will be powered by renewable energy from Octopus Energy. Solar panels will further improve the carbon footprint of the development by providing clean energy for the commercial space.

Works at Reliance Street 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.

Manchester City Council has given the green light to electric vehicle charging network Be.EV to build a large-scale charging ‘Oasis’.

Be.EV will transform a former petrol station site on the corner of Reliance Street and Oldham Road into a green forecourt and community hub.

The site will include commercial space for local businesses and provide ultra-rapid charging for 16 electric vehicles at any time, including accessible and van-suitable spaces, as well as secure charging for electric bicycles. Be.EV, which maintains a network of public EV chargers in Greater Manchester, says the site’s 16 ultra-rapid chargers will charge a typical EV in as little as ten minutes, compared to 46 hours on a 7kW fast charger.

Anyone will be able to use the chargers, but Be.EV members will be able to access a discounted rate across the company’s network.

Reliance Street marks the company’s first new generation ‘Oasis’ project, with further locations planned across the country.

Trees and biodiversity will form an integral part of the site’s design. A wildflower garden will form a natural boundary along one side of the site. Other planted areas throughout will include herbaceous perennials, shrubs and grasses. Be.EV has committed to a “net-biodiversity uplift” to bring nature back into the area.

The retail building and fore-

Be.EV to create ultra-rapid EV hub in Trafford

The Sale Water Park is set to receive a new charging hub via a £1m deal with EV charging network Be.EV. Sixteen ultra-rapid charger bays will go live at the 152-acre parkland and lake in August, making it the largest ultra-rapid charging hub in Greater Manchester.

It is the latest project in Be.EV’s wider collaboration with Trafford Borough Council, which has already seen more than 41 chargers go live across the region.

The ultra-rapid chargers mean drivers will be able to charge their cars from 20% to 80% in as little as 20 minutes. The site will be equipped with cutting-edge Kempower chargers that feature unique load balancing abilities. Kempower chargers can distribute energy supply between vehicles according to capacity and demand, meaning if one car reaches the maximum amount of power on one charger, any residual energy supply can be reassigned to another vehicle connected on-site.

Visitors to the Sale Water Sports Centre will benefit from the installation, with kayakers, swimmers, dog walkers and sailors able to charge their vehicle whilst out on the water or dining at the Treetops Café or Boathouse Grill restaurant.

Located two minutes from the M60, Trafford residents and commuters will also be able to access the site around the clock, with the site able to charge over 380 cars on any given day.

Be.EV is Transport for Greater Manchester’s preferred charging partner, and the Sale Water Park site is helping the chargepoint network reach its target of

Be.EV chief executive Asif Ghafoor said: “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.” getting each of Trafford’s 236,000 residents within 10 minutes of a charger.

The council will retain ownership of the site and the chargers will be owned, installed and maintained by Be.EV, who will provide Trafford Council with a share of the site’s profits.

Cllr Aidan Williams, executive member for climate change at Trafford Council, said: “Since the council declared a climate emergency in 2018, we have committed to a range of activities in an effort to achieve zero carbon status for the borough as soon as possible. This includes the delivery of projects that encourage people to make more journeys by bike, on foot or using public transport. However, we fully understand that this is not always possible and that it’s vital we support people to have cleaner, greener vehicles.

“Becoming home to the largest ultrarapid charging point in Greater Manchester shows how serious Trafford is about electric travel. Ensuring the charging infrastructure is in place is a key component in making electric vehicle use a viable option for people in the borough.”