Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has secured £1.6 million in funding from the UK government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to support the rollout of more than 800 public electric vehicle charging points, aimed primarily at residential areas without off-street parking.
The project will be delivered in partnership with charging infrastructure provider Connected Kerb, which was selected following a procurement process launched in January 2025. Under a 15-year contract, Connected Kerb will provide private investment alongside the public funding to install a total of 826 charging sockets across the borough.
Installation work is scheduled to begin in January 2026, with the first publicly accessible chargers expected to be available from early 2026, the council said. Preparatory works are already under way, including the creation of new parking bays at locations identified through the Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen EV Infrastructure Strategy.
The council said sites were chosen to limit disruption to residents, including the use of gable ends of streets where parking does not currently exist and disused parcels of land. The charging infrastructure will be installed and operated by the private-sector partner.
Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keri Mather said the project formed part of a broader national effort to expand charging access. “We’re investing £1.6 million to roll out over 800 chargers in Blackburn with Darwen, making it easier than ever to charge up on the go,” she said, adding that the funding contributes to the government’s plan to install more than 100,000 chargers nationwide.
She also pointed to wider measures to support EV adoption, including funding announced in the UK budget to extend the Electric Car Grant to 2030.
Quesir Mahmood, executive member for growth and development at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said the funding would help address the needs of residents who rely on on-street parking. “By securing LEVI funding, we can help residents and visitors in areas who only have the option to park on the street, without affecting existing parking spaces,” he said.
Connected Kerb Chief Executive Chris Pateman-Jones said the project would significantly expand access to charging infrastructure across the borough. “Delivering over 800 new sockets will ensure residents have the reliable infrastructure they need to make the shift to zero-emission transport,” he said.
The scheme supports the council’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2030 and aligns with the UK government’s target for all new cars and vans to be zero emission by 2035.