Northumberland County Council has passed a motion to add an additional 36 public electric vehicle charging points at 26 locations, expanding the council’s existing charging network.
Of the new charge points, 78 per cent will be installed on land owned by the council. The remaining chargers will be located on land owned by third parties through a licensing agreement. The split means most of the new infrastructure will sit on council-controlled sites, while a smaller share depends on licensed third-party locations.
The charging infrastructure is being financed with just over £1 million in external funding from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. Revenue generated by the chargers is being used to meet their running costs, management and maintenance. The funding will be used to roll out the charge points until 2029.
Northumberland County Council has an in-house EV team that will install and maintain the chargers. Cllr Richard Wearmouth, cabinet member with responsibility for transport at the council, said: “It’s great to see more investment towards improving EV charging provision in Northumberland. We have one of the largest road networks in the country, and it is vital that we ensure we have the necessary facilities to help people get around.”
With 36 charge points across 26 locations, at least some sites will host more than one charger. The council’s delivery model combines its own land with third-party sites secured through licensing. External funding from the sustainable transport settlement supports the rollout, while charger revenue is directed to operating costs, management and maintenance. Installation and maintenance will be handled by the council’s in-house EV team.
Northumberland is a coastal region in northeast England that borders Scotland. It is known for Hadrian’s Wall and Northumberland National Park. The council says it has one of the largest road networks in the country, which it cites as a reason to ensure drivers have the necessary facilities.
The region gained more sustainable transport a few months before the charging motion when 14 BYD BD11 battery-electric buses entered service. The charge-point expansion is a separate measure but adds to the area’s electric transport infrastructure.
The motion concerns the addition of public charge points rather than a replacement of existing equipment. It sets out the number of charge points, the number of locations, the land arrangements and the funding model. It does not specify charger speeds, exact addresses or a completion date within the 2029 rollout period.