Car park reinforced due to heavy EV vehicles amid warning about ageing multi-storeys

A major North East car park has been strengthened amid warnings that heavier electric vehicles could put "undue stress" on ageing multi-storey car parks across the UK. Ten concrete pillars at Newcastle's six-storey Times Square multi-storey have been reinforced. MGM Construction carried out the project for the Centre for Life, which believes it is the first of its kind in Europe and could guide other ageing car parks. Large batteries can make electric vehicles much heavier than equivalent petrol or diesel models, raising concerns about the strain on decades-old structures. Times Square car park Phil Burridge, managing director of MGM Construction, said: "While electric vehicles are greener, their huge batteries mean they can weigh up to 600kg more than petrol and diesel cars. "As more people drive electric vehicles, all that extra weight risks putting undue stress on a car park's existing concrete pillars. "When car parks were built decades ago, such heavy vehicles didn't exist, and the logic was always that cars would get lighter – not heavier." Times Square Car Park is widely used by commuters as well as football and music fans because of its proximity to Newcastle city centre, the Utilita Arena and St James' Park. Mr Burridge said closing the car park during the work was not realistic because so many people rely on it. Engineers initially thought three columns needed strengthening, but investigations showed all ten required reinforcement. Mr Burridge added: "Nothing like this has ever been attempted before, so it took a lot of our team's expertise and vast skill set to ensure we could do so with minimal disruption whilst, most importantly, keeping the public safe at all times." Workers wrapped the pillars in steel collars before pouring high-strength concrete around them during tightly controlled 45-minute windows. The collars left little room for access, while the concrete took about three days to reach its initial set. MGM said post-work tests showed the car park was ready to handle future demands. Mr Burridge said: "Thankfully, our comprehensive testing shows that having future-proofed this car park for electric vehicles, the site is now in phenomenal shape to meet any future demands. "However, car park operators across the UK will need to ensure that their sites are 'EV-proof' and can withstand potentially hundreds of tonnes of extra weight in the coming years. "We hope that our work can act as a blueprint for other sites going forward." Claire Adams, chief operating officer at Life, said the investment would prepare the Newcastle site for changing travel habits and extend the building's life. She said: "This investment supports Life's strategic direction by helping to future-proof an important city-centre asset responsibly and sustainably. "By strengthening the existing structure, we are preparing Times Square Car Park for changing travel habits, including the growth of electric vehicles, while extending the life of the building."