Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Paragraph: 46
To facilitate the roll-out of charging infrastructure, the Government must: a) use the upcoming Planning...
Recommendation
To facilitate the roll-out of charging infrastructure, the Government must: a) use the upcoming Planning Bill to make public charge point provision a requirement of local plans; b) make funding for the on-street residential charging scheme dependent upon local authorities having detailed charge point plans in place which support rapid charging options; and c) ring-fence a portion of the £90 million local charging scheme to allow local authorities to employ dedicated ‘charge point champions’ to deliver local charging infrastructure strategies.
Paragraph Reference:
46
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government partially accepts these recommendations. For a successful transition to mass market EV uptake holistic, joined up thinking is required at both a local and national level. In theElectric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, we will set out our expectations for local authorities to consider EV infrastructure in their local plans. Alongside this in the Future of Transport Regulatory Review consultation, we are consulting on whether there should be a statutory requirement on local authorities or another body to undertake local planning and provision of EV charging infrastructure.We will also continue to work closely across Government to ensure that reforms to the planning system will be beneficial to chargepoint rollout. There is unlikely to be any one ideal solution appropriate for all areas. Instead, local areas will need a tailored mix of charging infrastructure, which may include some rapid charging provision in addition to kerbside on-street charging. We committed £90m to the new Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fundto support the roll out of larger on-street charging schemes in England, potentially including local rapid charging projects. Whilst the On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme does not fund rapid charging, we will be ensuring it dovetails with the LEVI Fund to provide a holistic funding support package for local authorities. The LEVI fund is a capital only fund and cannot be used to pay for chargepoint champions directly. We are procuring a body to support LEVI and one of its roles will be to help LAs to develop their EV charging infrastructure project proposals. We also currently support LAs through the Energy Savings Trust’s Local Government Support Programme which the government funds.