Abbey House Hotel & Gardens, a Grade II* listed luxury hotel and wedding venue in Cumbria, is set to install an electric vehicle (EV) charging hub of 10 ultra-rapid and fast charging bays at its extensive grounds in Barrow-in-Furness.
The team around Operations Director Brian Conroy enlisted EV infrastructure specialist Be.EV to design a bespoke charging solution that meets the increasing demand from guests and staff respects the hotel’s stunning setting and connects to the local community.
The chargers will be available to the general public, who can access them via the Be.EV network - the largest public charging network in Greater Manchester that is expanding rapidly across the North.
While the project contributes to local climate action like Low Carbon Barrow and the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership, the hotel did not draw on any public funding available through these initiatives. The solution was provided by Be.EV at zero cost to the hotel or the public purse.
The new facility will offer a carefully considered mix of ultra-rapid and fast charging to suit different user types.
For example, a nurse heading to work at nearby Furness General Hospital can quickly top up their EV on one of the ultra-rapid chargers, while guests staying overnight or for the day can plug into one of the fast chargers.
Be.EV developed the solution in partnership, working out exactly how the charging facility will work on the site, what signage will be needed and anticipating the planning needs of the listed building.
Brian Conroy explains: “We knew we needed to offer EV charging for our guests, but we didn’t know where to start. The Be.EV team helped us get our head around the different types of chargers, all the different aspects you need to consider.
“They looked at what we need to provide now, based on visitor trends and existing local infrastructure. But they also made sure we have a plan for the next decade, as the number of EVs increases.
“As a business, we are ready to invest to reduce our carbon footprint. As it happens, Be.EV’s solution is delivered at no cost to us and connects us to a growing regional network. This has allowed us to be ambitious with our plans and make a bigger difference to EV charging in our community.”
Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV, commented: “Abbey House is a great example of the role hotels can play in the EV revolution. Guests and visitors now demand EV charging, but it is still early enough to be a first mover and reap the benefits that come with that. Our work with the Abbey House team shows that EV charging can be done well and in keeping with the heritage of a site.”
Abbey House was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1914 and has been Grade II listed since 1949. Any developments on the 14-acre site have to be sensitive to this status and the importance of the building.
The new EV charging facilities are currently awaiting planning permission, with a projected go-live later this year.
The Be.EV team can advise and support hospitality businesses and hotels across the North and beyond on the right EV charging approach, delivering future-proof, fully funded solutions that are right for each site.
Find out more and view the full Abbey House Hotel case study here.