The older residential areas of Milton Keynes are set to get electric vehicle charging points installed on the streets after the council secured a £1.1 million grant.
The council has been working with Connected Kerb and Ringway to secure the largest grant offered to date from the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV), as part of its commitment to a carbon-negative future.
Approximately 40 per cent of homes in the city do not have access to off-street charging facilities. The grant will be used to install 250 charging points across the city where there are fewer off-street parking options; but where electric vehicle ownership is on the rise.
Cabinet member for climate action and sustainability, Cllr Jenny Wilson-Marklew said “We’re delighted to have secured funding to make it easier for local people to use electric vehicles. Encouraging drivers to make the switch to electric is a vital part of our carbon-neutral future. It needs to be made as easy as possible and we look forward to working with all of our partners to begin this ground-breaking project.”
Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb said “I am delighted that Milton Keynes Council, who are a recognised pioneer in the EV sector, selected Connected Kerb for this critical EV infrastructure project which aims to boost EV uptake in Milton Keynes by improving access to charge points for residents without off-street parking. Making charging more affordable, sustainable and accessible to all is an essential step if the city and the wider UK is to reach net-zero.”
Yogesh Patel, Ringway innovation director said “We are excited by the potential of this project to shape new travel choices for local people. Our teams already work hard to maintain the highway network in Milton Keynes and we are looking forward to using this local knowledge to create greener transport options for residents. This project, especially the funding already secured, is a big step forward to future-proof the local highway network, and we cannot wait to get started.”
Senior officials from OZEV will be visiting Milton Keynes to discuss the programme further.
Image source- Milton Keynes Council
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