New fast electric vehicle charging points unveiled in central Sunderland thanks to £600k grant

Regional EV charge facilities have been given another boost as new fast electric vehicle charging points are unveiled at St Mary’s Car Park in Sunderland.

The four new 7kW fast chargers at St Mary’s in the city centre will be operational by April and will provide simultaneous charging for eight electric vehicles.

The new charging facility was approved by the Joint Transport Committee last year and has been made possible thanks to a £600k grant from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) Local Growth Fund programme.

This £270m local capital programme is set to deliver a range of growth measures to achieve the objectives set out in the North East Strategic Economic Plan (SEP). Boosting EV charging facilities is a key part of the North East Transport Plan which was adopted by the region in 2021.

Cllr Martin Gannon, chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “Encouraging greater take-up of EVs and boosting infrastructure is a key part of our 15-year plan to significantly reduce carbon emissions in the region.

“We’re passionate about providing enhanced facilities in the North East to encourage greener, more sustainable options for motorists - which is why we’re thrilled to unveil this new EV charging point in Sunderland.

“The site is strategically placed so that it is close to shops, popular cultural sites, University campuses and residential areas - allowing people to charge their vehicles close-by while they go about their business.”

In addition to the new EV charge point in Sunderland, additional EV charging sites will soon be delivered in each of the seven local authority areas in the North East.

Andrew Moffat CBE, Chair of the North East LEP Investment Board, said: “Thanks to the significant investment in our region from Britishvolt, Nissan, and Envision-AESC, the North East is now one of the leading destinations in the world for advancements in electrification.

“It’s fitting that the first of seven new electric vehicle charging points under this investment programme across the North East LEP area has opened in Sunderland, home to Nissan and the International Advanced Manufacturing Park, where a new £450m gigafactory will be created.”

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