Council scheme aims to make electric cars more practical for residents without driveways
West Northamptonshire Council has confirmed a major on‑street electric vehicle charging programme after appointing infrastructure specialist char.gy to deliver more than 3,000 chargers across the area. The deployment, backed by a mix of private capital and government support via the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, is due to begin this summer.
The majority of the chargers will be lamp‑post mounted on residential streets and are being targeted at drivers who cannot fit a home charger — a common barrier in denser neighbourhoods and terraced housing. The council says the move is intended to boost access to charging for those without off‑street parking and to support the transition to cleaner vehicles.
"This is a transformative investment in our area’s future. By delivering thousands of accessible, convenient and fairly priced on‑street charging points, we are making it easier for residents to choose cleaner travel and invest in electric vehicles if they choose to,"
The council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste, Cllr Nigel Stansfield, described the programme as a substantial step towards a more sustainable West Northamptonshire and welcomed the use of existing street infrastructure to scale provision rapidly.
Pricing, practicality and comparisons
char.gy has indicated that chargers will operate with what it calls "competitive user tariffs". The firm currently offers an overnight rate of 39p per kWh between midnight and 07:00 — a price lower than many public rapid chargers but higher than typical domestic off‑peak electricity tariffs. The company highlights lamp columns as a low‑impact way to bring charging closer to where people live without large civil‑engineering works.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Planned chargers | 3,000+ (majority lamp‑post units) |
| Funding | Private investment + LEVI government fund |
| Current char.gy overnight rate | 39p/kWh (00:00–07:00) |
John Lewis, chief executive of char.gy, emphasised the benefit to households without driveways:
"This investment will make a real difference to people across West Northamptonshire who don’t have driveways or home chargers. By using lamp columns on residential streets, the Council is bringing charging closer to where people live, without major disruption to neighbourhoods."
What this means for residents
For many households in Northampton and the surrounding towns, the programme promises practical gains. Residents who live in terraced streets, flats or other properties without private parking will gain nearby options for overnight or local daytime charging that do not require installing a home wallbox.
Key points for residents to note:
- Installation starts this summer; the council and char.gy will publish finer roll‑out timetables and locations closer to installation dates.
- Charges will be subject to the operator’s tariffing; unlike home electricity, public charging prices can vary by time and operator.
- Using lamp‑post chargers typically involves minimal streetworks, but local disruption during installation is still possible.
Large on‑street charging schemes are under way in other UK areas such as London and Brighton, reflecting broader local authority attempts to increase charging access outside private driveways. The council has framed the project as part of its environmental strategy and as preparation for greater electric vehicle uptake in the coming years.
The council and char.gy have not released a full list of initial installation streets or precise completion milestones. Residents wishing to follow progress should check the West Northamptonshire Council website and char.gy communications for updates on specific locations, installation windows and final tariff structures.
Further reporting will cover the first neighbourhoods to receive chargers, community feedback on installation impacts, and how the local network integrates with other public and private charging provision across West Northamptonshire.
