Cumberland Council has secured £3.465 million in funding from the UK government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme to develop a network of electric vehicle (EV) charge points across the county. The initiative aims to improve access to public charging for residents, particularly those without off-street parking.
The funding, managed by the Department for Transport, will support the installation and maintenance of EV charge points, with Cumberland Council planning to release tender documents next month to select a long-term charge point operator (CPO).
The project seeks to ensure that at least 70% of local residents who do not have private parking options will have access to public charging infrastructure within a five-minute walk from their homes, a key target of the LEVI programme nationwide.
Cumberland, located in North West England and encompassing areas such as Cumbria, Carlisle, and rural regions including parts of the Lake District and the Pennines, faces challenges due to its low population density. To address this, the council intends to install chargers in local community hubs such as supermarkets, town centres, gyms, and retail parks in rural zones.
While the council has not disclosed the number or specific types of chargers to be deployed, it expects the first installations to be operational by winter 2025, with full commissioning completed by winter 2028.
Cumberland Councillor Denise Rollo said the council is committed to involving local communities in the project, with public engagement set to begin in July 2025 to help shape the rollout and prioritise locations. She highlighted that the initiative supports the county’s net zero ambitions, reduces barriers to EV adoption, and promotes social value alongside addressing the climate emergency.
