£5.4m allocated to expand charging infrastructure in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

The Combined Authority’s Board has given the green light for a major expansion of public electric vehicle (EV) charging across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough through a 5.4 million pounds allocation from the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Capital Fund.

The approval of the money and how it should be spent paves the way for a minimum of 930 new public charge points, and could grow further if extra private investment comes in as part of the expansion.

There will be a particular focus on areas without off street parking, which can make an electric car difficult or impossible.

The funding will support the region’s 2040 target of 80% of households without off-street parking being within a five-minute walk of a public charge point or able to charge on-street from a domestic charger.

The LEVI funding, awarded by the Department for Transport, is ringfenced for the delivery of EV charging infrastructure, follows the approval of the Combined Authority’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (EVI) Strategy in 2024.

The strategy aims to ensure everyone can recharge their vehicles conveniently and affordably.

The project will be delivered in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, with installation of charge points starting from late 2026.

The contract will run for a total of 15 years, including delivery, operation and maintenance of the charging points, ensuring long-term benefits for residents and businesses.

Paul Bristow, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, says: “With more electric cars on our roads, we need more places to charge them. This funding is a vital step in helping our communities to do so reliably and affordably.”

“Helping more people, particularly those without off-street parking, to recharge their cars, is another example of my mission to get Cambridgeshire and Peterborough moving,” he adds.

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