More than 5,500 electric vehicle charge points, unlocked with £5.4 million in Combined Authority funding, are set to be installed across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, subject to final approvals.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority secured the money from the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund to provide charging infrastructure for residents without driveways and off-street parking.
Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, as highway authorities, ran a joint procurement for a contractor to install the chargers, with Peterborough leading the process.
Peterborough City Council's Cabinet agreed on Thursday (October 1) to accept £1,075,770 of the LEVI funding and award a 15-year contract to Believ, delivering 1,058 charge points in the city against a contract minimum of 185.
The full £5.4m funding required a minimum 930 charge points to be installed across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to meet the Combined Authority's EV Infrastructure Strategy. Believ will deliver 5,585 charge points across the region – six times more – with the additional 4,655 funded by private investment.
In Cambridgeshire, 4,527 charge points will be delivered from the rest of the LEVI funding, with Cambridgeshire County Council approving delegated award of the contract at its Highways and Transport Committee in December 2025.
It will support the region’s 2040 target of 80% of households without off-street parking being within a five-minute walk of a public charge point or able to charge on-street from a domestic charger. The Government intends to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030, which means more chargers are needed.
The contract includes commitments on affordability and access, including a margin cap on the charging price per kWh, and putting nearly a fifth of charge points in the most deprived 30% of areas. Believ has also committed £1,016,500 of social value investment across Peterborough and the Cambridgeshire districts.
The two-socket chargers will be installed on residential streets, with locations to be agreed following surveys and assessments, including engagement with communities. Subject to the remaining statutory procurement stages, delivery is planned to begin next year.
Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow said: “Our commitment to delivering 930 chargers is unlocking many more times that number, which is exactly what I want our funding to do.
"If you've got a driveway, charging an electric car is more straightforward. If you haven't, it's been a real barrier, so this funding will help put EV charging within reach for more people.
"I look forward to seeing delivery on the ground, helping our drivers and supporting my work to get Cambridgeshire and Peterborough moving."
Councillor Angus Ellis, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “This is a significant chance to accelerate our city’s transition to cleaner, greener transport whilst improving access to EV charging for residents who do not have off-street parking. The move ties in with our ongoing work to reduce carbon emissions and we will use grant funding to unlock substantial private sector investment, delivering a much larger and more accessible charging network than could be achieved through public funding alone.
“Awarding the contract will also enable us to make full use of available national funding, supporting our net zero and inclusive growth ambitions, and ensuring that our communities benefit from modern, reliable and equitable EV infrastructure. The recommendations provide a financially sustainable and future-focused approach that supports residents, attracts investment and positions Peterborough positively for the transition to zero-emission transport.”
Cllr Alex Beckett, Chair of the Highways & Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Transport is the largest contributor to our county’s carbon footprint, so helping all of us to transition to EVs will help to create a greener and more sustainable Cambridgeshire.
“Limited access to a charging point prevents many people, who still need access to a car, from switching to an EV. Installing more than 4,500 new EV charging points, especially in residential areas without off-street parking, is going to be a game-changer.”
