Have your say on electric vehicle charging guidance for new developments
Thursday, 16 June 2022
We're inviting residents to have their say on proposals that will set new standards for electric vehicle charging in new developments.
We're committed to tackling the climate challenge by maximising opportunities to develop cleaner and greener modes of travel. We'd like to support the implementation and rollout of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network, which is just one way we can contribute.
The Electric Vehicle Charging: Guidance for New Developments Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), sets out our requirement for the provision of electric vehicle charging points in new developments, which covers housing, commercial and other development such as educational settings and gyms. The proposals define our expectations for active and passive provision in new developments, helping to avoid residents and businesses facing unnecessary costs of retrofitting electric vehicle charge points. It also seeks to help make the requirements for developers clearer.
Councillor Kevin Collins, our Executive Member for Planning and Regeneration, said:
We are absolutely dedicated to becoming more sustainable across Central Bedfordshire. We recognise the significant benefits of electric vehicles, particularly in relation to air quality and their contribution to reducing carbon emissions.
Usage of electric vehicles in our area is growing, alongside demand for charging infrastructure and we have a part to play in helping to make clearer the requirements for charge point provision in all new developments coming forward.
We are also investing in charge points in our car parks and across our highways network as well as looking at innovative charging solutions for residents without off-street parking.
The consultation is open for six weeks (Wednesday 15 June 2022 to Thursday 28 July 2022).
Find out more and have your say.
If you have difficulties accessing the documents, please contact us on 0300 300 8307 or email localplan@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
Once the consultation has closed, we will consider the comments received and make any necessary changes to the document. A summary of the comments received and how they’ve been taken into account will be presented to a meeting of our Executive Committee in autumn, alongside the revised Electric Vehicle Charging: Guidance for New Developments document. Subject to adoption, the SPD will be a material consideration in determining planning applications and all development proposals will be required to demonstrate that they have taken it into consideration.