In a powerful example of how historic buildings can be reimagined for modern needs, Dean Clough Mills in Halifax has incorporated electric vehicle (EV) charging as part of its forward-looking vision. Dating from the 1800s, the former carpet factory has recently installed eight ultra-rapid EV charging bays that have quickly become some of the most utilised in the region.
The project represents a perfect marriage of heritage preservation and future-focused amenities. Jeremy Hall, chairman and Managing Director at Dean Clough Ltd, and Alex Hinchcliffe, UK Managing Director at EV charging provider Mer, shared their insights into how this collaboration came about and its remarkable early success.
Preserving the past, powering the future
"One of the founding principles at Dean Clough is about reuse, and especially the value of reuse in terms of the carbon benefits," explains Jeremy. "We have a wonderful asset in the shape of these magnificent buildings that we’ve been given an opportunity to reuse and make relevant and vibrant for the community we live and work in."
This philosophy extends to modernising the site's facilities while maintaining its historic character. "Even though the buildings are 150 years old, we're in a situation where the nature of the product that we're delivering is something that people understand in the marketplace today," Jeremy says.
The site's evolution took an electrifying turn when Alex approached Dean Clough with a proposal to install EV chargers. "We grabbed it with both hands," Jeremy recalls, "because our ethos is very much about the forward-looking element of the site and its amenities."
A perfect match
What makes Dean Clough particularly well-suited for EV charging infrastructure? According to Alex, who lives near the 22-acre mixed-use site in Halifax, it's the site's diverse ecosystem.
"What really put Dean Clough on the map as a location for EV charge points was its diversity in terms of demographics and amenities. It's got its own micro population of workplace, retail, food and beverage, gym and fitness, and hotel accommodation."
Another crucial factor was the local housing landscape. The high density of terraced housing in the Calderdale area presents limited scope for people to install at home chargers. The area has a general lack of EV charging facilities, and Mer’s eight ultra-fast charge points more than doubled the existing EV charging infrastructure.
This combination of factors makes Dean Clough an ideal opportunity to boost EV adoption in the region. "I believe it could be a gateway to transition," says Alex. "When we put chargers centrally into an environment where they become accessible to residents, it removes the barriers to owning an EV. It has the beneficial impact of stimulating visitors to the shops, cafes, businesses and all the other amenities on a commercial site.”
Once the home of Crossley Carpets, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer in the Victorian era, Dean Clough is a thriving 22-acre, mixed use mill complex. Its 16 Grade II listed Victorian mills have been sensitively converted into a community where people come to work, eat and drink, enjoy culture, health and wellbeing, to shop, celebrate, recharge and even marry. As Alex explains, “Dean Clough and Mer coming together really was a match made in heaven."
Overcoming challenges
The path to implementation wasn't without obstacles. The heritage status of the site presented particular challenges. "We had to build a brick-built substation in keeping with the local surroundings," explains Alex. "We had to make sure that we didn't create an eyesore and that we tried to be as in keeping with the historic background as possible, while creating this modern infrastructure."
Construction was met with additional, unforeseen complications. "When we started to dig on the site, the surveys and radar hadn’t picked up underground potholes, culverts, and all sorts of structural challenges," Alex recalls.
For Jeremy, these challenges actually strengthened the partnership between Mer and Dean Clough: "Precisely because it's not been a straightforward process, it demonstrates people's tenacity and their resilience to see something through, and that builds trust."
Impressive early results
Once the chargers went live, the teams at Mer and Dean Clough thought there would need to be a period of time to raise awareness and generate enthusiasm. But the installation immediately skyrocketed to within the top five highest-performing sites on the Mer network.
The utilisation statistics tell a compelling story. Within the first two months of operation, the charging stations have powered enough e-miles to drive over three times around the circumference of the Earth, according to Mer's data. That’s equivalent to driving the full length of the UK 100 times, or from London to Dean Clough 415 times.
On a typical day, seven of the eight bays are regularly occupied, showing the significant pent-up demand in the area. Over 500kwh pass through them each day, around 2,500km of EV driving – every day. For Jeremy, the beauty is that "we don’t have to persuade people to use the chargers. We just have to make sure people know the facility is there, because there are lots of people who want to use it."
Benefits beyond charging
The charging stations have created a self-reinforcing ecosystem of benefits. "It's great for the three and a half thousand people who work on the site," Jeremy explains. "It's also great for our food and beverage outlets because someone thinking 'I need to charge my car' can either sit in their car or get out and enjoy a coffee in a nice cafe."
The installation has also opened opportunities for Dean Clough's tenant businesses. One senior manager at a company with offices at Dean Clough drives her EV up from Cambridge multiple times a week. "She was delighted to be able to just pull up on site, outside the office, and plug in," said Alex.
For Mer, making electric mobility accessible to everyone is a key mission. As the demographic makeup of EV drivers expands to include more women, older people, people with disabilities, mums wrestling with toddlers and buggies, driver expectations change to focus on things like ease of use, convenience and safety. This is something that Dean Clough has actively taken into consideration in their choice of Mer as its charging partner, and through the provision of 24-hour access in a secure environment. "All the car parks have got the Park Safe award," Jeremy says. "Providing an inclusive and safe-feeling environment is massively important for us."
The wider community of Calderdale is also expected to see the benefits as the chargers make the transition to EV a reality for commercial fleets and taxis. The bays at Dean Clough are large enough for light commercial vehicles used for last mile deliveries in the area. As Alex explains, “this will have the knock-on effect of supporting the local environment by allowing businesses to drive their EVs in the Bradford Clean Air Zone and drive down emissions.”
As for future expansion, the team is taking a measured approach. "We thought we had future-proofed with eight bays, probably more than was needed locally," Alex explains. "We will be monitoring the usage. If we start to see that six or seven bays are in regular occupancy, around 20-25% utilisation, then that gives us a use case to expand." The site certainly offers potential for growth, with Alex noting, "It's a massive car park, so if the requirement continues to build, there are opportunities for expansion."
Community impact
The charging stations complement Dean Clough's growing role as a community hub. "It’s a highly visible hub in a really busy site," Jeremy says. "People attending events like our monthly Artisan Market will be parking in the vicinity of the chargers, so they see that there’s EV charging available.”
The site will also host Calderdale Pride in August, typically attracting 25,000 visitors, further increasing awareness of the charging facilities.
For commercial property owners considering similar installations, Jeremy's advice is straightforward: "Embrace it and celebrate it."
As electric vehicles continue to gain momentum, Dean Clough stands as a powerful example of how historic sites can embrace new technologies while honouring their heritage, providing essential infrastructure that supports both the local community and the transition to a more sustainable future.