Dorset’s Councils take 'major step' towards a greener future
More than 3,000 on-street electric vehicle chargepoints will be installed across Dorset over the next five years
A new £16.5 million project will see more than 3,000 on-street electric vehicle chargepoints installed across Dorset over the next five years.
Dorset Council and BCP Council have joined forces to deliver the county-wide scheme they call “a major step” towards a cleaner transport network.
The multi-million-pound programme is funded entirely through the Department for Transport’s Local EV Infrastructure Fund alongside significant private sector investment from by Connected Kerb.
Ministers say the initiative will expand charging access and support the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles ahead of the 2030 ban on new internal combustion engine car sales.
Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather said nearly £4 million of government funding would help deliver the 3,000 new public chargepoints.
He said: “We know concerns about charge point access remains a barrier to people making the switch to an EV but now we’re giving local people in Dorset the confidence they need to go electric.”
The scheme aims to address one of the biggest challenges facing drivers considering electric vehicles: access to reliable, convenient charging, particularly for households without driveways or garages.
Councillor Jon Andrews said the investment would make switching to EVs more accessible.
“By providing accessible charging, we’re supporting residents who already have electric cars and vans and making it more attractive to those who haven’t already switched,” he said.
Councillor Andy Hadley added that creating a county-wide charging network would remove one of the main barriers to adoption.
He said: “This rollout is about making life easier for our communities while reinforcing Dorset and BCP’s position as a hub for green investment.”
Electric vehicles are typically cheaper to run than petrol or diesel models and are seen as key to cutting transport emissions, which account for around a third of Dorset’s carbon footprint.
Chris Pateman-Jones, chief executive of Connected Kerb, said the project would bring “convenient, affordable EV charging where it’s needed most – on local streets and in everyday parking spaces”.
Work on installing the first chargepoints is expected to begin later this year.