West Northamptonshire Council has confirmed a major expansion of local electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure after appointing charge point operator Char.gy to deliver more than 3,000 on‑street charging sockets across the area.
What has been agreed
The programme has been awarded funding from the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, supplemented by private investment, following a competitive procurement process. Installations are scheduled to begin in mid‑2026 and will focus on locations where residents rely on on‑street parking and lack home‑charging options.
A sizeable share of the new chargers will be installed as lamp‑column units, making use of existing street infrastructure to speed delivery and reduce the need for new groundworks. The council said sites will be selected through an evidence‑based process that prioritises households without off‑street parking and considers locations suggested directly by residents.
“Drivers in West Northamptonshire will soon have thousands more reasons to go electric, with over 3,000 new public charge points rolling out thanks to £2.85m of government funding,” said Keir Mather, Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister.
Local councillors welcomed the announcement. The council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste described the scheme as a transformative investment that will help scale up accessible, affordable charging using existing infrastructure.
How locations and costs will be decided
The council is working closely with parish councils to identify appropriate sites and ensure the network is fair, accessible and sustainable. Residents will be able to suggest locations, and the authority intends to prioritise areas with the greatest need.
- More than 3,000 charge sockets to be installed across West Northamptonshire
- Installation start date: mid‑2026
- Charging hardware: a large proportion to be lamp‑column units
- Funding: LEVI grant backed by private investment; competitive user tariffs promised
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of sockets | Up to 3,000 |
| Funding (LEVI) | £2.85m cited for the area |
| Installer | Char.gy |
| Start of installation | Mid‑2026 |
Local impact and practicalities
The rollout is aimed primarily at residents who do not have access to private off‑street charging — typically those living in terraced housing or flatted premises with on‑street parking. By increasing the number of publicly available sockets the council expects to reduce one of the main barriers to EV adoption: uncertainty about where to charge.
Details on precise locations, works schedules and the user tariff structure will be published by the council as the programme moves into the delivery phase. Parish councils and community groups will be invited to contribute to site selection to ensure the network meets local needs.
For now, residents who wish to suggest sites or seek further information should contact West Northamptonshire Council’s environment or transport teams through the council’s website.
This scheme forms part of a national drive to expand the UK’s EV charging network, with government announcements pointing to continued LEVI funding to help motorists charge at home and on the move.
