Midlands Connect facilitates regional partnerships to secure LEVI funding
Thirteen councils across the Midlands have come together to create two partnerships to successfully bid for the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, facilitated by the region’s Sub-national Transport Body, Midlands Connect.
The partnerships have recently collectively secured an award of £39.3m, and each member local authority has been allocated an individual amount from that pot.
The joint approach builds on a successful partnership bid in 2022, when Midlands Connect together with five councils secured £1million of funding through the LEVI Fund Pilot. That cash is expected to attract an additional £2.8m of private sector investment to roll out 322 standard and 27 rapid EV charging points. Charge points are expected to be installed for this project in summer 2024.
The two new consortium are:
Second Midlands EV infrastructure Consortium – Lead by Nottinghamshire County Council, in partnership with Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Staffordshire County Council
Third Midlands EV infrastructure Consortium – Lead by Lincolnshire County Council, in partnership with Herefordshire County Council, Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council, Shropshire Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Telford and Wrekin Council, Warwickshire County Council
Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect, said, “We are delighted the Government has allocated funding over £39.3m for 13 councils across the Midlands. This will really help the region to charge ahead of the pack."
“This is a vital next step in our efforts to improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the region ahead of the phase out of sales of new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2030. This funding will improve the lives of those living in the Midlands, particularly for those who do not have access to off-street parking and may struggle to charge their vehicle otherwise."
Analysis by Midlands Connect found the Midlands needs 17,461 new public EV charging points by the end of 2025 to meet the needs of the growing EV market and it’s hoped the new funding will spur on more region-wide installation of charging points.
Estimates suggest the installation and maintenance of electric vehicle charging points will also create an influx of jobs in the region, with over 42,000 related roles set to be created in the Midlands by the end of 2032.