RAW Charging is set to roll out 1,000 new EV charging bays across 28 retail and leisure destinations in the UK, including plans for what is being billed as the country’s largest destination charging hub at Bluewater.
The £24.5 million rollout will span major Landsec sites including Bluewater, Gunwharf Quays, White Rose Shopping Centre and Brighton Marina. It will include 554 AC fast chargers and 446 DC rapid chargers, with some having already been installed before the official announcement.
While rolling out a 1,000 chargers is bold, it should be noted that the partnership between Landsec and RAW Charging is set to run for 20 years – that means that we won’t necessarily get all the new chargers within the next few months. That doesn’t mean you’ll have to wait 20 years to see the full rollout complete either, as the partnership includes maintenance and upgrades – which means existing chargers in Landsec locations that no longer meet current expectations around speed, reliability or accessibility will be replaced.
Bluewater set to become UK’s largest destination EV charging hub
The flagship project will be Bluewater Shopping Centre, which is located in Kent. Landsec increased its ownership of the site in 2021 to hold the majority share, with the site already well served by EV charging infrastructure. It is currently served by both Pod Point charging points and Tesla Superchargers, although, given the popularity of the shopping centre – which is the fifth biggest in the UK – those chargers are already heavily constrained.
It’s not the first time Bluewater has upgraded its EV charging infrastructure to meet demand. It originally started with eight Pod Point chargers and five Tesla Superchargers. That has since expanded to 39 Pod Point chargers and 17 Tesla Superchargers. That means at current capacity, 56 cars can charge at any one time – a small number given the centre’s 13,000 parking spaces, which on peak days can often be at capacity.
While neither RAW Charging or Landsec have responded to our request for further details regarding the number of chargers expected to be installed at Bluewater, the number will need to be significant to meet its ambition of becoming the UK’s largest destination EV charging hub. It’s a title that is currently held by the NEC in Birmingham, which features an EV charging hub capable of charging up to 180 cars at any one time – three times higher than the capacity currently available at Bluewater in Kent.
Neil Broadbank, Chief Commercial Officer at RAW Charging, commented, “We’re proud to partner with Landsec, whose top-tier retail and leisure destinations attract millions of visitors each year.
“Our EV charging hubs give customers confidence to recharge on arrival, enhancing their experience and keeping them on-site longer.
“This investment goes beyond infrastructure – it’s about connecting amazing places and supporting the UK’s transition to cleaner, greener transport.”
Ben Padley, Head of Consumer at Landsec, added, “Our destinations welcome millions of visitors each year and are the hubs for communities across the UK. Creating exceptional experiences while supporting a more sustainable future is central to how we shape those places.
“As more drivers switch to electric, retail destinations like ours have a clear responsibility to make charging simple, accessible and part of everyday life.
“Through our partnership with RAW Charging, we’re embedding high quality, future ready EV infrastructure across our portfolio, including plans for what will become the UK’s largest destination charging hub at Bluewater.
“The scale and reach of our platform mean we can deliver this at pace and in locations people already choose to spend their time.
“This long-term investment strengthens our guest offer, providing a multitude of convenient charging options for current and future electric drivers.”
The rollout adds to RAW Charging’s existing presence across a range of destinations, with the company already operating infrastructure at sites including National Trust properties, Legoland Windsor, Alton Towers, McArthurGlen Designer Outlets and several hotel groups.
