West Northamptonshire is in line for one of the biggest local on-street EV charging rollouts in the country, after the council appointed Char.gy to install more than 3,000 charging sockets across the area.
The programme is funded through £2.85m from the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, topped up by substantial private investment. It follows a string of major council deals for Char.gy, which last year signed the UK’s biggest on-street charging agreement with Brighton and has installed 500 charge points across Harrow.
The rollout is aimed squarely at drivers who rely on on-street parking and have no way of charging at home. West Northamptonshire Council says the network will offer competitive user tariffs, and installation is due to begin in mid 2026.
A large share of the new units will be lamp column chargers, slotting into existing council and parish council infrastructure. That approach keeps costs down and avoids digging up residential streets, while bringing charging to the kerbside where people actually park.
Locations have been chosen through an evidence-based process that prioritises residents without off-street parking, alongside sites suggested by residents themselves. The council is also working with parish councils to pin down the best spots for new charge points.
‘Thousands more reasons to go electric’
Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather said: “Drivers in West Northamptonshire will soon have thousands more reasons to go electric, with over 3,000 new public charge points rolling out thanks to £2.85m of government funding.
“We know charging availability is one of the biggest barriers to switching, which is why we’re tackling it head on with over £600 million to rapidly expand the UK’s charging network so drivers can charge at home or on the go with confidence, wherever they are.”
Cllr Nigel Stansfield, cabinet member for environment, recycling and waste at West Northamptonshire Council, called the deal “a transformative investment in our area’s future”.
“By delivering thousands of accessible, convenient and fairly priced on-street charging points, we are making it easier for residents to choose cleaner travel and invest in electric vehicles if they choose to,” he said. “Working with Char.gy allows us to scale up quickly using existing infrastructure and ensure our communities are well-prepared for the increasing demand for electric vehicles.”
Char.gy chief executive John Lewis said the investment “will make a real difference to people across West Northamptonshire who don’t have driveways or home chargers”.
“By using lamp columns on residential streets, the Council is bringing charging closer to where people live, without major disruption to neighbourhoods,” he added. “We’re proud to be working with West Northamptonshire Council to deliver a reliable and affordable on-street charging network that supports local residents and helps make switching to an electric vehicle a practical option for everyone.”
The deal means both halves of the county are now pressing ahead with LEVI-funded networks, after neighbouring North Northamptonshire secured a £3m boost for its own charging plans.
Residents will be kept up to date on installation timelines and site locations through the council’s EV charging webpages, Char.gy’s website and council social media channels.
