Case Study: Past Meets Present as Ultra-Rapid Charging Comes to the Historic Dean Clough Mills Retail Park

The Client

Dean Clough Mills, a 22-acre mixed-use retail park in Halifax, is renowned for its 16 Grade II listed Victorian Mills. Originally the home of Crossley Carpets, formerly the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, the mills ceased running in 1982. The year after, Dean Clough Ltd transformed the site into a vibrant hub for businesses, arts and the community. The site itself has numerous shops, cafes, offices and a gym. For Dean Clough sustainability is a core value of the organisation, therefore Mer approached Dean Clough with a proposition to install ultra-rapid EV chargers at the site, building off its previous experience at similar retail parks.

The Solution 

Therefore, Dean Clough chose Mer as its charge point operator, to install the ultra-rapid chargers on site. This collaboration aimed to provide efficient charging solutions whilst preserving the site’s historical buildings and aesthetic.

In total eight ultra-rapid charge points were installed, which in one stroke doubled the surrounding area’s EV infrastructure. Blending the old with the new, Mer built a brick substation to ensure that the new infrastructure did not aesthetically clash with the surrounding listed buildings.

The Outcome

The chargers at Dean Clough have rapidly become a top performing site, due to its location and the amenities available at Dean Clough Mills. Within the first two months of going live, the chargers have powered enough e-miles to drive more than three times round the circumference of the Earth. The chargers not only provide a place for customers at the shopping centre to charge, but also for staff working on the site and the surrounding local community. The charging bays themselves are large enough for light commercial vehicles as well, helping local businesses to expand their own logistics networks.

The successful integration of ultra-rapid EV charging infrastructure at Dean Clough serves as a model for how heritage sites can adapt to contemporary demands. By respecting the historic significance of the site, Dean Clough Mills and Mer have demonstrated that sustainability and heritage can create a fusion of both worlds, into something that will benefit the community well into the future.