Council secures £2.3m to expand electric vehicle charging network

Cheshire East Council has secured more than £2.3 million in funding to install electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints at around 175 sites across the borough, with installation at 15 locations starting this summer.

The funding, awarded through the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) and the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund (LEVI), will help expand access to EV charging, particularly for residents without off-street parking. The plans also support the council’s Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy and the UK’s Zero Emission Mandate. 

ORCS-funded EV chargepoints will be installed at 15 locations, this summer, at council car parks and selected on-street locations across Alsager, Congleton, Crewe, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Middlewich, Nantwich, Sandbach, and Wilmslow. 

Further sites are planned in the coming years through LEVI funding, with the council aiming to appoint an operator to deliver additional on-street chargers. 

Councillor Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council’s highways and transport committee, said:

“With EV ownership in Cheshire East expected to rise from 8,000 to nearly 100,000 by 2030, this funding is vital. It helps us close gaps in the current network and support the growing number of EV drivers. 

“The council plans to expand the network further, with at least 160 more locations to be rolled out in the future.”  

Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said:

“Making EV charging easier and more seamless with our everyday lives is vital to achieve our net-zero goals. It’s brilliant therefore to see Cheshire East Council confirm they will be installing chargepoints later this year thanks to our funding boost alongside private investment. "

Councillor Sam Corcoran, Cheshire East Council’s environment and climate change member champion, said:

“This much needed funding will help us install hundreds more chargepoints, support the transition to electric vehicles and help our efforts to reduce carbon emissions across the borough.” 

The grant funding will deliver new charging locations over the summer months, including:  

• Fairview car park - Alsager. 

• Antrobus Street car park - Congleton 

• Bulkeley Street, Edleston Road car park, Wrexham Terrace car park, and one other location in the vicinity of Hope Street car park - Crewe * 

• Green Street, Tatton Street car park - Knutsford  

• Brook Street, Churchill Way car park, Whalley Hayes car park - Macclesfield  

• Southway car park - Middlewich 

• Snow Hill car park - Nantwich  

• Chapel Street car park - Sandbach 

• The Carrs car park - Wilmslow   

*Several locations are being considered.