An innovative company, Riversimple LLP, which designs hydrogen-fuelled cars has moved its HQ into the Mill on the Green at Dinham in Ludlow.
Managed by Millennium Green Trust, the Mill on the Green was transformed from a derelict former mill building into a new visitor attraction with cafe, working water wheel, office space and craft rooms.
The £642,000 project was funded by Advantage West Midlands, the European Regional Development Fund via Shropshire Council and the Millennium Green Trust.
The aptly titled Riversimple LLP will staff its new headquarters with six employees initially. Currently based at Staunton-on-Arrow, Riversimple LLP also has prototype development facilities and workshops at Silverstone. The first prototype of their carbon-fibre hydrogen car was launched with much fanfare in London in June 2009.
Phil Roberts, of Advantage West Midlands, said: “It’s fantastic news that the sensitively restored Mill has secured a new tenant. In a strange way it is also seems appropriate that Riversimple LLP’s 21st century cutting edge design will be supported by mediaeval technology. ”
“The Mill on the Green is a great addition to the visitor attraction in Ludlow, sitting in the shadow of the Ludlow Castle walls and demonstrating how to successfully bring a wonderful building back into use.”
“Riversimple LLP perfectly suits the ethos of what Dinham is all about”, said the Chairman of Dinham Millennium Green Trust, Mr Paul Nicholls. “We shall soon use yesteryear technology to provide a modest flow of electricity by means of a water wheel and now, just a few feet above that wheel, will be a team tackling the energy challenges of the 21st century. Suddenly, Dinham attains new interest and importance”.
Managing Partner of the ‘Riversimple’ operation is 50 year old Hugo Spowers, who is an Oxford-educated engineer. He has a vision to build hydrogen cars in small bespoke factories that create jobs in local communities.
“We expect to make the move within a matter of weeks”, said the one-time designer and driver of racing cars. “The riverside mill with its water wheel presents a glorious working environment. It will be inspirational as we go about our quest for energy efficiency”.
The ‘Mill on the Green’ opened its doors only last August and is an extension of the Dinham Millennium Green project pioneered in 1998 and still run by volunteers. It occupies the site of Ludlow’s old public swimming bath and – in centuries past – that of the two most important corn mills in the town. In the 19th century it was home to a water-powered iron and brass foundry. Later a turbine was installed there for the pioneer Ludlow Electric Light Company.
Grants for creating the ‘Mill on the Green’ came principally from Advantage West Midlands. They stipulated that a large part of the building be set aside for the creation of employment.
“We have more than met our obligations… and in a most exciting and topical way”, said Mr Nicholls. “Energy derived from water power was once vital to Ludlow’s growth and prosperity. Could it be that the search for ‘green energy’ in the present century will again put Ludlow on the map?”
The revolutionary goal of ‘Riversimple’s’ Hugo Spowers is to see hydrogen cars provided to drivers on lease. He owns that after fifteen years of designing, building and driving racing cars ‘squaring my environmental conscience with motor sport became more and more difficult’.
Only last summer ‘Riversimple’ achieved widespread publicity with its first carbon-fibre hydrogen two-seater. Powered by a tiny 6kW fuel cell and weighing just 350kg, the car can reach 50mph, has a range of 240 miles, a fuel consumption equivalent to 300mpg and greenhouse gas emissions less than a quarter of the most efficient of petrol-engined cars.
Only research and office work will take place at Dinham with construction and testing carried on elsewhere. Hugo Spowers added, “We hope to build up a staff of 10 by the end of this year”.
The Mill complex includes a café, workshop and public meeting room as well, of course, as the ‘green’ outdoors.
To see Riversimple LLP's designs click here