National EV charging network Be.EV is investing £4 million into the regeneration of Failsworth, in a landmark investment that proves the value of EV charging in regenerating communities.
The cash is being spent on transforming a long-abandoned petrol station—left derelict for 15 years—now being repurposed into a state-of-the-art green 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 Manchester Charging Oasis will offer 12 ultra-rapid charging bays that can deliver up to 300kW, meaning drivers can add up to 325 miles of range in a 20-minute stop. There are also four waiting bays for drivers who are queuing for the chargers.
The site will also have a new Caffè Nero Express providing a welcoming destination for EV drivers and the wider community.
This landmark project forms a key part of Failsworth’s ongoing regeneration. Failsworth forms part of the ‘Northern Gateway’, one of the six key growth zones outlined in Greater Manchester’s 10-year industrial strategy, and has been undergoing an extensive transformation in recent years.
This includes a £3.7 million affordable housing scheme on Hardman Street that delivered 14 energy-efficient homes on previously disused brownfield land.
Additionally, McCarthy Stone’s 51-apartment retirement living development is breathing new life into the former Failsworth Mill site, with communal spaces, mobility scooter storage, and further EV charging facilities.
These residential developments come alongside a £1.35m solar farm development at Wrigley Head that will reduce CO2 emissions by 50 tonnes a year, provide additional jobs and directly supply local businesses, helping them to cut their energy costs.
Pictured Asif with Dominic from Caffe Nero
The Manchester Charging Oasis is one of the key transport developments contributing to this regeneration. Located on a key commuter route between Manchester and Oldham, the new site is expected to serve over 26,000 daily commuters, supporting local businesses by boosting annual spending at nearby establishments by up to 3%.
With Greater Manchester’s EV population projected to exceed 150,000 by 2038, the development provides crucial infrastructure for the city’s net-zero ambitions.
Crucially, the site has undergone a comprehensive decontamination process, removing old petrol tanks and restoring the soil to safe, sustainable conditions.
It is now 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—a blueprint for converting disused urban sites into assets for the green transition.
Beyond enabling EV adoption, the Manchester Charging Oasis plays a vital role in the city’s Clean Air Plan. Air pollution contributes to at least 1,200 early deaths each year in Greater Manchester, and is estimated to cost £5.3 billion across England by 2035 unless action is taken. Providing charging infrastructure to help phase out polluting internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles forms a key part of addressing this and will reshape Failsworth into a more sustainable, future-ready urban space.
Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV, 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.
“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!”
