Wokingham Council Seeks Partner for EV Charging Network Expansion
Council aims to install accessible, reliable, and financially sustainable charging points to encourage electric vehicle adoption.
By Laura Medhurst
••3 min read
AI
Generic image of an electric vehicle charging cable connected to a charging point on a street.
Wokingham Borough Council has agreed on the next steps to expand its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, seeking a long-term partner to install, run, and develop a high-quality network across the borough.
The council is inviting bids for potential partners, with a view to appointing one by spring 2027. This initiative aims to provide accessible, reliable, and financially sustainable charging options to encourage EV adoption and reduce barriers, particularly for residents without off-street parking. The plan supports the council’s broader goals of tackling the climate emergency and improving air quality by reducing emissions.
The strategy, approved in January 2025, aligns with the impending Government ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030. Technical options to be considered include residential and destination charging, rapid and ultra-rapid charging, charging hubs, cross-kerb charging, and emerging technologies. The council hopes to achieve a target of over 400 chargepoints by 2030.
Drawing on lessons from its existing network of around 90 chargepoints, the council believes a single partnership will offer a consistent approach. The partner will be expected to meet high energy efficiency and carbon reduction standards, and to adopt and develop the council’s existing assets. Any surplus generated will contribute to council services, helping to address financial challenges.
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"We’re committed to supporting all forms of sustainable travel and EV adoption plays an important role. We’ve learned valuable lessons from our initial, smaller-scale EV charging provision and now we’re ready to scale up our support through a strategic partnership. This model will ensure both sides are focused on providing a high-quality service and growing the network sustainably, rather than short-term profits, and will enable additional investment to help people switch to EVs. By factoring in a wide range of technologies and needs, we’ll be able to respond and adapt our approach as the market evolves, including offerings such as cross-kerb charging."
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"We’re looking for an experienced partner with knowledge of EV charging infrastructure to help us realise our ambitions, and we’re offering grant funding to help make this happen. This initiative will take time to implement while bids are fairly considered and details of any partnership arrangement are negotiated. However, it will count towards many of our long-term environmental, financial and sustainable travel objectives while enabling fairer access to EVs."
Approximately 40,000 EVs are projected to be registered in Wokingham Borough by 2030, representing over 30 per cent of registered cars and contributing significantly to the council's carbon saving targets. The council plans to work with its partner for an initial 15-year term, with an option to extend for up to five years, potentially investing up to £5 million, with the partner matching this investment.
