A suite of 98 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points have been unveiled today at Bullring & Grand Central, Hammerson’s retail and leisure destination, ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Operating up to 22KW, the chargers are located in The Centre, Moor Street and Edgbaston Street carparks.
A more sustainable Birmingham
A number of vehicles used by Birmingham 2022 will be electric - as it aims to be the first Commonwealth Games to create a carbon neutral legacy - and the Games’ vehicles will have exclusive access to 52 of these charging points for the duration of the Games (28th July to 8th August 2022).
The deal comes after Bullring was announced as an official provider for Birmingham 2022 last month, and also follows the opening of the first official merchandise store on the Bullring estate earlier this year.
Birmingham is on a journey towards cleaner air and the EV charging points will support the City Council’s drive to encourage more sustainable transport into the city centre. As Hammerson progresses towards its target to be Net Zero by 2030, reducing carbon emissions, water demand and resource use across its destinations and offices, the improvement of infrastructure to support more environmentally sustainable visits is an important area of focus.
Shop while you charge
Electric vehicle ownership has increased rapidly, with sales up 76 per cent in 2021 and Bullring is tapping into this growing market by creating a retail and leisure destination that caters to owners’ needs. With options to charge and shop currently limited in the area, Bullring is aiming to be the premier destination in the West Midlands for EV customers who want to travel into the city centre, shop at the world’s best retail brands, dine at family friendly restaurants or spend the afternoon at Bullring’s cultural programme of events and experiences – all in the same place.
As Hammerson reinvigorates and brings new uses to its portfolio, research shows EV charging points can increase dwell time by 50 per cent and boost the average spend by more than double.
Toby Tait, Director of Asset Management, Hammerson said: “We’re thrilled to be strengthening our partnership with Birmingham 2022, ensuring that their electric vehicles will be charged throughout the Games. Across our portfolio, we are dedicated to creating vibrant, continually evolving spaces where people and brands want to be. As EV ownership rises, drivers’ decisions on where to shop, dine and socialise will be more influenced by destinations, like Bullring, which offer charging points. As well as supporting more sustainable modes of transport amongst centre visitors, the roll out of EV charging points will help deliver a valuable boost for our tenant brands, who will be well placed to serve this demographic of customers in-store as their electric vehicles charge up.”
Michael Rawlings, Director of Transport for Birmingham 2022 added: “Our ambition is to be the most sustainable Commonwealth Games yet and the electric vehicle chargers provided by Hammerson will play a big role in this.”
Hammerson’s flagship destination transformed Birmingham city centre when it was developed and continues to be at the heart of the city’s social, cultural and arts programme. Birmingham Weekender, B-Side Hip-Hop Festival, Pride and Its Carnival are all on the roster again this year.
ENDS