A government-funded EV infrastructure programme, supported by significant private investment, is being rolled out across Kent.
More than £12m-worth of funding has been awarded from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) capital fund, making it the largest LEVI project in England for a Local Authority. The project will be delivered without drawing on funding from Kent County Council (KCC).
The first phase of the rollout will begin in the summer, focusing on locations with limited off-street parking. KCC has awarded the 20-year contract to chargepoint operator, Urban Fox.
Urban Fox will work closely with the council and local communities to ensure chargepoints are delivered in the right locations, using a range of on-street solutions designed to fit ‘sensitively’ into residential environments.
Peter Osborne, cabinet member for highways and transport, says: “We’re pleased to support this programme because it offers practical help for residents and prepares Kent for the future. It will deliver reliable and affordable charging within walking distance of their homes, which is particularly important for people who do not have off-road parking – and it’s being delivered at no extra cost to Kent’s council tax payers.
“Residents have already shared over 700 places in their local communities where they would like to see EV chargers and we’ll be assessing each of them over the coming months as the roll-out begins.”
Oli Freeling-Wilkinson, CEO for Urban Fox, says: “This programme represents a significant step forward for EV charging in Kent. Being awarded the contract to deliver up to 10,000 charging sockets is a clear vote of confidence in Urban Fox’s ability to deliver at scale while keeping communities at the heart of every project.
‘Working in partnership with KCC, we’ll focus on delivering accessible, reliable on-street charging in the places residents need it most, particularly for those without off-street parking. Our role goes beyond installation; we’ll be engaging local communities, supporting the council through delivery, and ensuring the network is future-ready, well maintained, and easy to use for everyone.”
