2025 is set to be another bumper year for the electric car charging network, according to the latest planning data. Local authorities have approved more than £500 million in electric vehicle charging infrastructure projects over the past 18 months, paving the way for hundreds of thousands of new plug-in points across the UK. According to an audit by Barbour ABI, which tracks construction data for councils and governments, this investment signals a significant ramp-up in EV readiness.

Among the most notable projects is a £100 million charging network planned for Wales and a £68 million scheme in West Sussex. Across the UK, local authorities have given the green light to EV infrastructure projects totalling £692 million, highlighting the growing focus on preparing for the transition to zero-emission motoring.

Kent and Surrey county councils have each seen £60 million in projects approved, while London has been allocated £70 million for charging sites. Elsewhere, Staffordshire, Edinburgh, Hertfordshire, and Hampshire councils have secured smaller but significant funding, ranging from £3.39 million to £6.7 million.

In addition to approved projects, a further £319 million worth of schemes is out to tender, including a £190 million initiative for the London Borough of Hounslow.

This surge in approvals coincides with Labour’s confirmation that it intends to reinstate the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. By 2035, all new cars and vans will need to be fully zero-emission, placing further emphasis on the need for robust charging infrastructure.

ChargeUK, an industry body, reported a 35 per cent rise in public charging points during 2024, with one new plug point installed every 25 minutes. The number of public chargers in the UK has climbed sharply, from 20,964 in 2020 to over 73,000 by the end of 2024.

Speaking to The Times, Simon Smith, chief commercial officer at InstaVolt, described the developments as “encouraging,” adding that expanded charging networks would boost confidence among EV drivers. However, operators continue to cite delays in connecting chargers to the grid and navigating red tape as significant hurdles.

In a bid to address these challenges, the Department for Transport has launched a consultation to streamline EV charger installations. Proposed measures include changing planning laws to allow off-street chargers to be installed under permitted development rights and introducing street works permits for charge-point installers to speed up grid connections.

Ed Griffiths, chief analyst at Barbour ABI, highlighted the rapid pace of change: “A few years ago, planning data around EV infrastructure barely existed in the way it does today. The growth we’re now seeing reflects how quickly the EV landscape is evolving.”

InstaVolt's new site on the A34 will have 44 charging bays and is one of hundreds of new hubs under construction