More than 1,500 new EV chargepoints to be installed
Residents across Cheshire West and Chester are set to benefit from one of the borough's biggest investments in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, following the appointment of Connected Kerb as the Council's delivery partner for a major new rollout programme.
The Council has awarded Connected Kerb a 20-year contract to deliver the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme, which will see 1,562 new public EV chargepoints installed across the borough over the next four years.
The ambitious programme is designed to help residents who want to switch to electric vehicles but do not have access to off-street charging at home.
Installation of the new chargepoints is expected to begin in early 2027, with the full rollout due to be completed by December 2030.
Most of the chargepoints will be located in Council-owned car parks. In areas where residents live more than 400 metres from a Council-owned car park, on-street charging facilities will be provided to help ensure communities can access convenient charging close to home.
The project is being supported through funding from the Government LEVI Fund of £2.049 million, which has enabled the Council to attract around £8 million of private investment from Connected Kerb. Together, the funding will create a comprehensive public charging network to support the growing demand for electric vehicles across the borough.
The rollout will also help make EV ownership more affordable through highly competitive overnight public charging rates on all new installations.
The scheme forms part of the Council's wider commitment to supporting sustainable transport and reducing barriers for residents considering the switch to electric vehicles.
Buses and Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said:
We’re backing Cheshire West and Chester County Council to go electric with over £2 million, supporting more than 1,500 rapid chargers across the borough and giving residents the confidence to make the switch. Charging availability is one of the biggest barriers to switching, which is why we’ve also invested £600 million to speed up the rollout, while our Electric Car Grant has helped over 200,000 drivers save up to £3,750 on a new EV.
Councillor Stuart Bingham, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhood Pride, said:
This investment will make it easier for more residents to make the switch to electric vehicles, particularly those who don't have access to a driveway or home charger. By delivering more than 1,500 new chargepoints across the borough, we're helping to remove a major barrier to EV ownership while supporting our ambition for a greener, healthier and more sustainable future.
Jamie Grindrod, Head of Public Sector at Connected Kerb, said:
We're proud to be working with Cheshire West and Chester Council to deliver one of the borough's largest investments in EV charging infrastructure. By combining public funding with significant private investment from Connected Kerb, this programme will help thousands of residents access reliable, affordable charging close to where they live. Together, we're creating a network that gives communities the confidence to make the switch to electric and supports cleaner journeys for years to come.
The new network will give thousands more residents access to reliable, convenient charging infrastructure, helping to support the transition to cleaner, greener transport while ensuring communities across the borough are ready for the future of travel.