Lewisham Council has partnered with charge point operator Zest to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the London borough, focusing on residents who rely on on-street parking.
Under the agreement, Zest will invest £1.5 million to install, operate and maintain at least 200 on-street EV charge points over the next 15 years. The rollout is aimed at addressing a key barrier to EV adoption in dense urban areas, where many households do not have access to private driveways or home chargers.
See also: Zest Appointed to Deliver Rapid EV Charging Network in London Borough of Hounslow
The first phase of the project is already underway. Fourteen charging bays have been completed, with the first charge point becoming operational on Childers Street in December 2025, according to the council.
The project will be delivered at no cost to the local authority or taxpayers, Lewisham Council said, and is supported by the UK government’s On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS), which provides funding to help local authorities expand public charging for residential streets.
“Lewisham is demonstrating real ambition in its plan for a low-carbon transport system,” said Robin Heap, chief executive of Zest. “By prioritising reliable on-street charging, the council is making it easier for households without private parking to participate in the transition to electric vehicles.”
See also: Southend-on-Sea Partners with Zest to Install 3,000 EV Chargers
Lewisham currently operates around 100 EV charge points across the borough, including 5 kW to 7 kW on-street chargers as well as 50 kW rapid chargers located in council car parks and on Transport for London red routes. The new partnership is expected to more than double the availability of publicly accessible charging infrastructure dedicated to residential use.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts across London to expand on-street charging as part of local and national strategies to support the transition to zero-emission vehicles, particularly in urban areas with limited private parking.
