Councils’ set out commitment to increase EV chargers

04/10/23
Babergh and Mid Suffolk have agreed to implement a new joint Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Implementation Plan

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils have agreed to implement a new joint Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Implementation Plan.

At cabinet meetings on 3 October, councillors voted to approve a draft plan which cements the councils’ ambition to increase EV chargers.

The plan looks beyond the almost 30 new EV charge points the councils are currently installing across the districts, thanks to a grant from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).

It includes information around the number of EV chargers currently located in the district, and identifies where more may be required in future, subject to further investigation.

Once the plan is finalised it will support the councils when applying or bidding for external funding for charge points.

This future infrastructure will then help lower emissions and improve air quality in line with the council’s and the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership’s net zero emissions targets.

Cllr Teresa Davis, cabinet member for thriving towns and rural communities at Mid Suffolk District Council, said: 

“Having a plan for future EV infrastructure in Mid Suffolk is really important.  Planning for electric charge points will help us unlock funding and enable us to better support community organisations and businesses.”

Cllr Daniel Potter, cabinet member for environment at Babergh District Council, said: 

“I’m proud that as a council we are putting forward-thinking steps in place to support our communities to shift to EV cars in future. This kind of infrastructure will help us all work towards our net zero emission goals over coming years.” 

The councils’ plan will mesh in and support the EV strategy currently being developed by Suffolk County Council.

EV charging bay