Somerset Council has secured £3.78 million in government capital funding to significantly expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the county – and residents are being invited to help shape where new chargepoints are installed.
The funding will support the installation of a minimum of 1,606 low-powered public chargepoint sockets (3.5kW and 7kW) in on-street and car park locations. These chargepoints will be designed for overnight and long-stay charging, particularly benefiting residents who do not have off-street parking and are therefore unable to install a chargepoint at home.
A preferred supplier, which will be announced shortly, has been selected, although not in contract yet. They will be responsible for the supply, installation, operation and maintenance of the network. The operator will invest at least 60% of the total project cost, in addition to the government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI). The concession contract will be in place for 17 years and installations will be completed within the first 2 years.
Have your say on where charge points should go
To ensure charge points are installed where they are most needed and will be well used, Somerset Council is asking residents to suggest suitable locations. This could be near homes, on local roads, or in places that attract high footfall.
Suggestions will help the Council prioritise sites based on real demand and ensure the county’s charging network meets local needs.
Residents can submit suggested on-street locations via the Council’s new webpage:
Electric vehicle charging
What happens next?
All suggested locations will be reviewed against initial assessment criteria, including pavement width, road safety and access to power supply.
Not all suggestions will result in an installation. We will install charge points on land owned by Somerset Council or adopted by the Highways Authority only, we are unable to install charge points on land belonging to a third party.
Suitable sites will be passed to the preferred supplier for further due diligence, including site visits.
Final approval will be required from the Council’s project team before any installation takes place.
Community engagement
Communications and engagement will be critical to the success of the programme. Once locations have been reviewed and ahead of any installation, the project team and chargepoint operator will engage with local residents, as well as city, town and parish councils.
Further updates and opportunities to get involved will be shared in the coming weeks and months.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services, said:
“Expanding access to electric vehicle charging is a vital step in supporting residents to make the switch to cleaner, greener transport.
“This investment will help ensure people across Somerset, particularly those without off-street parking, have access to reliable and convenient charging close to where they live. By inviting residents to suggest locations, we’re making sure new chargepoints are installed where they will make the biggest difference to local communities.”
