- Wesleyan and Be.EV will open a 16-bay ultra-rapid EV charging hub at Gallagher Retail Park in November 2024.
- Strategically located near the M6’s J9, the hub will serve over 140,000 vehicles passing daily, boosting footfall.
- As Wesleyan’s first EV project, it reflects their commitment to sustainability and innovation across their asset portfolio.
Wesleyan brings in Be.EV to install an ultra-rapid EV charging hub in Wednesbury, West Midlands
Wesleyan Assurance Society and Be.EV are launching an ultra-rapid EV charging hub at Gallagher Retail Park in Wednesbury, West Midlands. Opening in November 2024, this will be the largest ultra-rapid charging hub in the region, offering 16 charging bays.
Located just off the M6 motorway’s busy J9 junction, the site will be en route for over 140,000 vehicles daily. The park, home to stores like Decathlon and B&M, sits alongside the popular Gallagher Shopping Park.
Be.EV CEO, Asif Ghafoor, commented:
“Wesleyan is a long-established mutual with over 180 years of history. We are delighted that they’ve chosen us to install state-of-the-art EV charging infrastructure at this key site. It forms a core part of our strategy, as we look to expand on our market-leading position in the North West and create a national portfolio.
We have extensive experience installing and maintaining chargers at retail parks in and around Greater Manchester, which not only serve the local community but also boost retailer income through increased footfall. We’re confident we’ll be able to do the same at Wednesbury and hopefully this partnership will lead to development of more EV hubs for Wesleyan in the UK.
Our aim is to provide the best customer experience possible when charging, and we can’t wait to do this with such a respected real estate investor at what will be the largest ultra-rapid charging hub in the region.”
This project marks Wesleyan’s first venture into the EV charging space, but it’s unlikely to be the last. The Birmingham-based mutual manages £7.6 billion in assets, including a £450 million UK commercial property portfolio. This partnership with Be.EV is a strategic step forward. With significant financial backing and a strong asset base, Wesleyan aims to enhance its properties by introducing environmentally-friendly amenities.
Wesleyan’s Property Asset Manager, Mitchell Spencer, remarked:
“When we bought the retail unit in 2023, we had a vision from the start to enhance it by offering add-on sustainable and beneficial amenities for all who visit, and we very much had in mind the fact it was so close to a busy motorway network.
The addition of the EV charging facility will no doubt be a welcome pit stop for electric car drivers visiting the retail park, and more importantly, supports the electric car movement across the UK.”
