£20m Boost for Local Authorities to Increase On-Street Electric Chargepoints

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has urged more local authorities to apply for funding focused on ecologically sustainable transport projects.

In a letter to councils Shapps has today (2 February) announced that funding for the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme will continue into 2021/22, with £20 million confirmed for the next cycle.

The purpose of the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme is to increase the availability of on-street charging points in residential streets where off-street parking is not available, thereby ensuring that off-street parking is not a pre-requisite for realising the benefits of owning a plug-in electric vehicle

Since its inception in 2017, more than 140 local authority projects have benefitted from the scheme, which has supported applications for nearly 4,000 chargepoints across the UK. It is hoped that this funding boost could add nearly 4000 more chargepoints in towns and cities, tackling poor air quality and supporting economic growth.

Shapps said:

“With a world-leading charging network, we’re making it easier for more people to switch to electric vehicles, creating healthier neighbourhoods and cleaning up our air as we build back greener.

“The UK is already a global frontrunner in the shift to electric vehicles. The Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan set out that we will accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, which could create 40,000 extra jobs by 2030, and transforming our national infrastructure to better support electric vehicles, backed by a total of £2.8 billion and supporting around 169,000 jobs. Of this funding, £1.3 billion is set to be invested in charging infrastructure over the next 4 years.”

Local authorities in the UK are eligible for funding.

Applications can be submitted at any time and will be considered on a monthly basis.

More information about this funding opportunity and the application process is available on the GRANTfinder funding information platform. GRANTfinder provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on funding news and policy. To find out more about how GRANTfinder can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.