More than 3,000 public electric vehicle charging sockets are to be installed across West Northamptonshire after the council appointed operator Char.gy to deliver a major new residential charging network.
The programme will focus primarily on residential streets where households do not have driveways or access to private home chargers.
It is being supported by £2.853 million from the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, known as LEVI, together with private investment from the charging operator.
West Northamptonshire Council selected Char.gy following a competitive procurement process to supply, install, maintain and operate the charging points.
Procurement documents published before the appointment estimated the value of the concession at £7 million, including the council’s government funding contribution and private-sector investment of at least £4.2 million.
The concession was expected to run for 15 years.
A large proportion of the chargers will be fitted to existing lamp columns owned by the council and parish councils. The approach is intended to reduce the amount of new street infrastructure required and limit disruption during installation.
Most of the chargers will be installed in areas with significant levels of on-street parking, particularly where residents cannot charge an electric vehicle on private land.
Potential locations have been assessed using factors including existing and forecast electric vehicle ownership, population density, travel patterns, highway conditions and the capacity of the local electricity network.
The council said it was also working with parish councils and considering locations proposed by residents.
Official government records show that West Northamptonshire’s £2.853 million LEVI allocation has been approved for delivery.
The national fund was established to help councils in England install public charging infrastructure, with a particular focus on households without off-street parking.
Installation of the West Northamptonshire network is due to begin during 2026.
Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather said the government funding would help tackle concerns about the availability of charging infrastructure.
“Drivers in West Northamptonshire will soon have thousands more reasons to go electric, with over 3,000 new public charge points rolling out thanks to £2.85 million of government funding,” he said.
Cllr Nigel Stansfield, West Northamptonshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste, described the programme as a major investment in the area’s future.
“By delivering thousands of accessible, convenient and fairly priced on-street charging points, we are making it easier for residents to choose cleaner travel and invest in electric vehicles if they choose to,” he said.
“Working with Char.gy allows us to scale up quickly using existing infrastructure and ensure our communities are well-prepared for the increasing demand for electric vehicles.”
Char.gy specialises in public charging infrastructure for drivers who do not have access to private parking.
Chief executive John Lewis said the investment would make charging more accessible to people who did not have driveways or home chargers.
“By using lamp columns on residential streets, the council is bringing charging closer to where people live, without major disruption to neighbourhoods,” he said.
The council said residents would receive further information about installation dates, individual locations and the use of the new chargers as the programme progresses.
