- Durham County Council and Zest to install 250 EV charging points with over £11 million in combined funding.
- The project targets 40% of residents without driveways, aiming for 80% emissions reduction in three years.
- Installation begins in September, marking a major step toward a greener and more accessible future for EV users.
Zest and Durham County Council join forces to install 250 new charge points
County Durham is boosting its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Durham County Council has teamed up with Zest to install 250 new charging locations across the county.
Councillor Mark Wilkes, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said:
“We are delighted to be able to expand our EV infrastructure across the county. It really is important that we can offer residents more charging points as a better, more accessible network will make it easier for people to drive an electric vehicle.
In addition, by working together we can meet our ambitious targets to reduce emissions by 80 per cent over the next three years and achieve net zero across the county by 2045. We are committed to not only meeting this aim but continuing our work with our partners to look for further opportunities to expand our green infrastructure.”
This initiative is especially aimed at the 40% of residents without driveways, encouraging them to switch to EVs. The government’s Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme is backing the project with £4 million. Furthermore, Zest is contributing an additional £7 million to provide and operate the new charge points. The LEVI initiative is funding local authority project across the country. However, with upcoming new procurement rules, the processes to access this funding are set to change later this year.
Robin Heap, CEO and Founder of Zest, commented:
“The combination of investment from LEVI and Zest enables forward-looking local authorities like Durham to deliver ambitious EV projects for all residents. It should be seen as a blueprint for a more equitable approach to strategic infrastructure.
For us, it’s part of an ongoing strategy to provide convenient charging that synchronises with peoples’ everyday lives – wherever they usually park. We look forward to working alongside the Durham team for years to come.”
By making EV charging more accessible, this collaboration is paving the way for a more sustainable transport ecosystem. With visible, accessible charging infrastructure, we can inspire confidence in the next wave of EV adopters.
