Plugging in to the cars of the future

AN artist’s impression of England’s first electric car showroom, planned for Hollinwood

HISTORY will be made in Oldham as the first electric car showroom in the country is set to open in Hollinwood.

Oldham Council’s cabinet will tonight consider plans to transform the former Roxy cinema site into a one-stop shop for electric vehicles.

If given the green light, a long-term lease would be awarded to the Manchester Electric Car Company (MECC) for the development – scheduled to open in Summer 2012.

The innovative showroom, dubbed a pod, would be the first of its kind in England and include a showroom and information point, lease and rental cars and bikes, rapid charging points and an after-sales care team.

The hub area would also be given a further boost with the addition of retail units, as revealed in artist impressions of the development.

Councillor Dave Hibbert, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Regeneration, said: “This would be a fantastic coup for Hollinwood – a regeneration scheme that will really help to put it back on the map.

“The old Roxy site is an ideal location for the region’s very first ‘Pod’.

“This landmark development can make a real statement about our ambitions for Hollinwood and provide an exciting new gateway to the area.

“It should also attract new visitors and investment into the local economy from further afield.”

It’s thought the site’s location, with easy access to motorway networks, Manchester airport and the city centre, will be essential to the success of the scheme.

The Hollinwood pod will be the first of six earmarked sites across Greater Manchester.

Oldham Council is leading the initiative on behalf of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) which, after securing a government grant of £3.6million, attracted private investors to form the MECC.

A regional network of charging points would be installed in tandem by MECC, hoped to be in place by April 2013.

Ron Stratton, Chief Executive of MECC, said: “We know the demand for electric vehicles is out there and we’re expecting interest and sales to increase significantly in the coming years.

“Many EVs are already available and 2012 will see up to 25 new commercial cars and vans going on the open market.

“Hollinwood Electric would have showroom space for a number of electric vehicle manufacturers including cars and vans, plus scooters and bikes. We’re also in negotiations to potentially host an international car hire firm and Car Club schemes.”

If approved, a planning application will then be submitted to Oldham Council seeking approval for the designs.




TWO new charging points have been introduced on the M6 at Charnock Richard services.



Some motorists have refused the transition from fuel to electric vehicles because of so-called “range anxiety” – people afraid to leave their home town or city and drive on the motorway for fear of breaking down.

It is hoped that by March 2013 another 300 fast charging points and five larger facilities - the PODs - will be located in Greater Manchester.