Bradford Council is seeking approval to proceed with the phased LEVI Grant Funded Programme for the delivery of further charging infrastructure within the district.

The LEVI scheme is expected to provide 1,000 new charge points over 230 locations across the district

An update on the progress of the council’s allocation of charge point grant funding is due from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on Tuesday 4 February 2025.

The report highlights the plans in place to support the growing demand for charging sites, funded by the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) grant and in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).

The LEVI scheme is expected to provide 1,000 new charge points over 230 locations across the district, installed over three phases and due to complete by the end of 2027.

The focus will be on areas of high housing densities without off-street parking. The scheme will ensure equity of access and social value through design and procurement, considering pricing, ease of use, accessibility and working with local communities to ensure infrastructure meets local needs. It will also prepare sites for future demand and accelerate EV adoption to ensure inclusivity in infrastructure delivery.

The scheme is fully funded from grants provided by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the LEVI Capability Fund. Overall, there will be £3.1m investment in Electric Vehicle Charging projects with no financial implications on the council’s budget.

Demand for EV charge points in the area is growing. Modelling work undertaken by the Transport for the North (TfN) found that between 10,600 and 11,980 publicly available charge points would be required by 2030 in West Yorkshire with approximately 2,000 of these being needed in Bradford.

In addition, between 4,580 and 5,100 destination charge points – at places such as workplaces, hotels and restaurants – are expected to be needed by 2030. Destination charge points are defined as being places where people spend extended periods of time (hours/days) e.g. workplace, restaurants, hotels etc.

Other EV charging solutions and infrastructure projects will also launch towards the end of the decade, with much of it led by the commercial market.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “Extending the electric vehicle charging infrastructure plays a key role in Bradford Council’s clean air and sustainability targets of improving air quality to achieve quantifiable health improvements across the district in addition to contributing to the achievement of the 2038 net zero targets of Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the reduction in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

“These projects will enable the council to meet the future demand for electric vehicle charging points from those who live, work and visit the district with no overall additional cost to the council budgets.”