Worcestershire’s collaborative council plan brings additional EV charging points

A £2.1 Million Initiative to Install Over 100 Electric Vehicle Charging Points in Northeast Worcestershire

Redditch Borough Council and Bromsgrove District Council have teamed up for a significant project aimed at installing more than 100 electric vehicle charging points across their region. This collaborative effort involves the expansion of charging infrastructure within council-owned parking facilities and key workplaces.

Both councils have entered into a long-term partnership with EV infrastructure provider Zest, which will handle the full investment and manage the charging points for a duration of 15 to 20 years. Remarkably, there will be no financial burden on either council, as they are offering the land for the charging points throughout the contract period.

The ambitious initiative plans to introduce up to 120 new charging points at 33 strategic locations in northeast Worcestershire, demonstrating a commitment to advancing electric vehicle accessibility in the region.

Redditch councillor Gemma Monaco, said: “We’re delighted to deliver on a commitment we made to our residents and businesses to boost EV charger availability in Redditch by adding more chargers on our land.

“It’s something that more and more people are demanding, and the more we can support people to choose electric the better, not least because lower vehicle emissions means better air quality.

“We’re very interested in what we might be able to do next in other council-owned places including in residential areas.”

Robin Heap, CEO of Zest, which is supported by the government-sponsored Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (CIIF) in the UK, expressed delight at winning the contract—one of the first of its kind in the West Midlands.

“Growing a network that makes charging easy, convenient and reliable helps make the shift to EV a realistic option for everyone,” he said.

“Where councils and commercial landowners have the vision, we have the skills and the funding to make things happen quickly.”

The council has indicated that additional development on council-owned land in Redditch may take place in a subsequent phase.

The installation of the initial chargers is anticipated to be completed before the arrival of spring.

Back in July, Worcester Council unveiled its intentions to significantly increase the count of electric vehicle (EV) charging points within city car parks, more than doubling the current numbers.