EV Charging For Commercial Real Estate

Homepage / EV Charging for Commercial Real Estate

Reliable Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions for Commercial Real Estate

Stane Retail Park Sets a Sustainable Precedent

Essex-based Stane Retail Park partnered with Mer to offer reliable and convenient charging to visitors – installing five electric vehicle (EV) charge points for drivers.

The Background

Client: The Churchmanor Estates Company Plc.
Geographical Area: East of England

In 2018, Colchester Borough Council granted permission for what is now Stane Retail Park, a 15-acre retail park situated 4 miles from Colchester Town Centre.

Following completion in April 2022, residents and visitors can find B&Q, M&S, Aldi, Greggs, and Cook on this 173,000 square feet development, alongside 687 car parking bays. Superdrug and Mountain Warehouse have recently opened.

EV charging is proving hugely popular at retail parks and plays a key role in attracting visitors to retail sites. Having EV charging increases the dwell time at the site, as drivers can run errands, enjoy a meal, and shop whilst their vehicle is charging. As well as encouraging existing customers to return, charging infrastructure can entice new visitors to the site.

Electric vehicle charging points in retail car park

The Project

Churchmanor recognised the commercial opportunity that EV charging brings in addition to the reduction in air pollution, and sought to future-proof their site with charging infrastructure. User accessibility was a key focus point when considering which Charge Point Operator (CPO) to partner with, and Churchmanor were keen to ensure ease of use for their customers when using the charge points.

Phase 1 of the development saw 5 EV charge points installed, with each having 2 separate bays so 2 drivers can charge at once. This phase gave visitors access to a variety of chargers that suit different needs. The install involved 3 ultra-rapid chargers, which have CHAdeMO and CCS connectors and charge with a speed of up to 75kW. On average, these chargers can charge an EV to over 80% in approx. 30 minutes. Also installed were 2 fast chargers, which have a universal Type-2 connector, offer a speed of up to 22kW, and can charge an EV in approximately 4 hours.

It was a privilege to provide EV charging at Stane Retail Park. The development is a fantastic asset to Colchester, and with the addition of EV charge points, Churchmanor has ensured the park is prepared and ready for a future where electric driving will eventually become the standard transportation method in the UK.

Karl Anders, Managing Director at Mer UK

Through our analysis of the patterns and utilisation rates at our charging stations, we know that rapid and ultra-rapid charging is the most popular choice for EV charging. At Stane, 90% of kWh sold and 80% of total EV charging usage was via ultra-rapid bays.

Due to the popularity of the current EV charging infrastructure and the expansion of the site, Mer worked with Churchmanor on Phase 2 of the project, which saw the addition of 4 75kW rapid chargers. This expansion of the EV charging offering at Stane means more drivers can charge their vehicles whilst they enjoy the array of shops and services on offer a the park.

Matt Cloke, Development Director at Churchmanor Estates Plc., said “The Churchmanor Estates Company has been working with Mer to provide electric vehicle charging spaces at Stane Retail Park since prior to its opening in October 2021, in order to ensure that EV charging was available from day 1.

“Mer was chosen as the EV charging operator after a structured tender process, which took into account not only commercial terms, but also existing track record, network size, ease of use, uptime of the charging equipment and maintenance arrangements, customer service support, and use of sustainably generated electricity.”

Matt continues, “With the number of operators currently in the market expected to significantly consolidate in the medium term, it was also important to us to partner with an operator with whom we can have a long-term relationship. Mer worked collaboratively with us to ensure the charging equipment was installed and working on time and with the minimum of disruption, both for the original retail park opening and for the second phase of chargers. We’re very pleased with our decision to go with Mer and look forward to working with them in the future.”

With the addition of EV charging points, Churchmanor has ensured the park is prepared and ready for a future where electric driving will eventually become the standard transportation method in the UK

Karl Anders, Mer UK Managing Director

Attract Footfall with Mer’s Commercial Real Estate Solutions

Join the electric revolution with Mer and offer EV charging to your visitors and electric vehicle drivers.

Commercial landlords with retail or leisure estates are starting to investigate this new market and are looking to add electric vehicle charging points for use by staff and customers on their estates.

This e-guide has everything you need to know before starting an EV infrastructure project from new regulations to business models and building a future-fit infrastructure.

What’s in the Guide?

The Complete EV Charging Guide has everything you need to know before starting an EV infrastructure project:

Why Landlords Should Consider EV Charging
All There Is To Know About New Regulations
How EV Charging Installations Work
Business Models and Costs
Building a Future-Fit Infrastructure
Choosing a Sustainable CPO Partner
Case Study: Stane Retail Park
Working With Mer

Download Guide

Increase Revenue with EV Charging