As part of the on-going development of Failsworth, a town three miles north-east of Manchester, EV charging network Be.EV is investing £4 million on converting an abandoned petrol station into a state-of-the-art electric vehicle forecourt and community hub.
The development is the latest in a string of projects in the area which have been revitalising neglected urban spaces and supporting local economic growth.
The site has undergone a comprehensive decontamination process, following which it has been officially certified as a green site by Manchester City Council, making it one of the first former petrol stations in the UK to be repurposed for clean energy use.
The ‘Manchester Charging Oasis’ will offer 12 ultra-rapid charging bays that can deliver up to 300kW. Giving drivers an extra 325 miles of range in a 20-minute stop.
There will also be four waiting bays for drivers who are queuing for the chargers and a new Caffè Nero Express, serving both the drivers and the wider community.
The Oasis is sited on a significant commuter route between Manchester and Oldham and is expected to serve over 26,000 daily commuters, bringing an anticipated 3% rise in spend at nearby businesses.
With the number of EV drivers in in Greater Manchester’s expected to pass 150,000 by 2038, such developments are crucial infrastructure for the city’s net-zero ambitions.
Manchester-based Be.EV was established in 2019 and now operates a network of over 800 live charging bays across the UK, a figure expected to reach 1,600 by the end of this year.
The company’s CEO, Asif Ghafoor, said: ‘Be.EV are on a mission to improve community access to EV charging and with the Manchester Charging Oasis we are putting our money where our mouth is. This once-derelict site is set to become a key transport feature of the community—a thriving hub buzzing with activity.’
This project is part of a wide regeneration of Failsworth, which forms part of the ‘Northern Gateway’, one of the six key growth zones in Greater Manchester’s 10-year industrial strategy.
Other projects include a £3.7 million affordable housing scheme that delivered 14 energy-efficient homes on previously disused brownfield land and a 51-apartment retirement development which features communal spaces, mobility scooter storage and further EV charging facilities. A £1.35m solar farm is also being developed nearby.
Ghafoor added: ‘By breathing new life into this space, we’re not just revitalising the area—we’re paving the way for cleaner, greener streets. Every EV driver who charges here will be playing a part in purifying the air we all breathe. We’re incredibly proud to be at the heart of Failsworth’s transformation!,
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