Cumberland Council secures charger funding
Cumberland Council has announced it has secured £3.465 million in funding from the UK’s national Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme, which is managed through the Department for Transport.
It now plans to publish tender documents next month with the goal of procuring a long-term contract with a charge point operator (CPO) capable of providing, operating and maintaining charging infrastructure across the county. The goal of the project, like other LEVI project, is to provide at least 70 per cent of local residents who lack off-street parking with easily accessible public charge points, typically within a five-minute walk of their residence.
Located in the North West of England, Cumberland is comprised of Cumbria, Carlisle, and rural areas including parts of the Lake District and the Pennines. The low population density across the county could pose issues for EV charging access. In more rural areas, the council therefore plan to install chargers at ‘local community hubs’ – which could include supermarkets, town centres, gyms and retail parks.
No information has been provided by the council on the number or type of EV chargers set to be installed, as this will depend on the outcome of the tender process. However, the timeline is already set, with the first chargers expected to be up and running by winter of 2025 and all other charge points commissioned by winter of 2028.
Cumberland Councillor Denise Rollo said: “Cumberland Council is committed to putting local communities at the heart of this transition. A period of public engagement will begin in July 2025, inviting residents and stakeholders to help shape the rollout and identify priority locations for charging infrastructure. This project supports Cumberland’s net zero ambitions, reduces barriers to EV ownership, and strengthens our commitment to addressing the climate emergency while promoting innovation and social value across the region.”
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