Search: Devon Council

On-street charge point operator char.gy will deploy 30 new kerbside EV charge points across Devon in a trial supported by the UK government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, posted 3 August 2026. All units will run on 100% renewable electricity, with lessons from the trial informing the next phase of installations. char.gy operates the UK's fourth largest on-street charging network with over 5,000 public charge points currently in operation.

Why it matters: The trial extends LEVI funded infrastructure into a large rural county, offering procurement teams a model for rolling out kerbside charging beyond urban centres. With the UK reaching around 87,000 public charging points at 45,000 locations by late 2025, the project tests scalable deployment in areas where on-street parking dominates.

Devon County Council and Torbay Council have appointed Believ, char.gy and Wenea to deploy almost 3,000 public EV charging points across the region. The rollout, set to begin within the next few months, combines £8 million from the UK Department for Transport's LEVI fund with around £30 million in private investment from the three charge point operators. Wenea will install rapid and fast chargers in public car parks managed by seven district and borough councils, Believ will deploy standard on-street units and community car park chargers, and char.gy will integrate charging infrastructure into existing lamp columns.

Why it matters: This multi-operator framework demonstrates how local authorities are leveraging LEVI funding to attract significant private capital, with the £8 million public investment unlocking nearly four times that amount in operator commitments. The project offers a procurement model for other councils seeking to deploy mixed charging solutions across on-street, car park and lamp column sites at scale.

Devon County Council has partnered with on-street charge point operator char.gy to install 30 kerbside EV chargers in a trial expected to begin in early to mid August 2025. The project is an early delivery under the Government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, with funding released per charge point, and aims to improve residential charging access for drivers without off-street parking. The trial will inform how on-street charging can be expanded across the county ahead of a wider rollout.

Why it matters: The trial demonstrates how local authorities in historically underserved rural regions are using LEVI funding to test scalable on-street charging models before committing to larger procurements. For CPOs and suppliers, per-charge-point funding structures under LEVI create opportunities to prove operational models in challenging rural geographies like Devon.

Devon County Council is retendering a term contract for electrical and fire safety system testing across its estate, with one lot covering EV charger servicing. The £1.47M figure represents the entire contract value, not the EV servicing component alone. The submission deadline is 7 July 2026.

Why it matters: This is a maintenance and servicing opportunity rather than new charging infrastructure deployment, suited to electrical contractors with EV charger servicing capabilities. The contract structure bundles EV work within broader electrical testing, requiring bidders to assess whether the EV lot alone justifies tender costs.

Believ will deliver 1,300 standard EV charge points across Devon County Council and Torbay Council areas, targeting residents without driveways. The project, developed through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme, will be fully funded by Believ, with sister company Virgin Media O2 acting as delivery partner to accelerate rollout. All charge points will feature contactless payment and aim for PAS1899:2022 compliance where possible.

Why it matters: The fully privately funded deployment removes public capital risk while addressing on street charging gaps in rural and underserved areas. The Virgin Media O2 partnership signals potential for telecoms infrastructure to accelerate charge point installation at scale.

Devon County Council and Torbay Council have selected Believ, char.gy and Wenea to deliver almost 3,000 publicly accessible charging sockets across communities, residential streets and public car parks. The rollout is backed by an £8 million grant from the Department for Transport's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, with the three charging providers contributing the remaining investment to bring the total to around £30 million. The expansion follows the adoption of EV strategies by both councils identifying the need for thousands of additional public charging sockets to be operational by 2030.

Why it matters: This multi-operator framework demonstrates how local authorities are using LEVI funding to leverage private capital at scale, with the £8 million public grant unlocking £22 million in operator investment. The project offers a procurement model for other councils seeking to deploy mixed charging solutions, combining lamp column units, on street residential chargers and car park rapids across seven district and borough councils.

Greendale Business Park in Devon plans to resubmit proposals for 30 EV chargers, two HGV filling points and a battery farm after the Planning Inspectorate dismissed its appeal. East Devon District Council had refused the scheme, and planning inspector Matthew Jones supported the charger location but raised concerns about infrastructure needed to contain water used in potential battery energy storage system fires. The project would draw power from a nearby anaerobic digestion plant and solar panels.

Why it matters: The case highlights how battery storage safety requirements can block otherwise supported charging infrastructure, a risk for CPOs planning grid-connected sites. The resubmission signals continued commercial appetite for the 30-unit roadside scheme despite regulatory setbacks.

A planning appeal for an EV charging park in Devon has been dismissed after health concerns were raised. The Planner Magazine reports that the proposal was scuppered following objections related to potential health impacts. No details on the site location, number of chargers or the applicant were disclosed in the available excerpt.

Why it matters: The decision highlights how health and amenity objections can block charging infrastructure projects, adding regulatory risk for CPOs and developers seeking to expand networks in residential or sensitive areas.

Devon County Council has been awarded £7.53 million from the Department for Transport to deploy approximately 90 zero emission buses, replacing older diesel vehicles across the county. The funding forms part of an expansion of existing Zero Emission Bus Areas (ZEBRA) projects in the south west and south east of England. Stagecoach South West will work with the council to roll out the new electric fleet, which aims to improve air quality and support journeys for work, education and healthcare.

Why it matters: The award signals continued central government backing for regional bus electrification, creating procurement opportunities for vehicle OEMs and charging infrastructure suppliers across Devon. Operators and CPOs should monitor ZEBRA expansion tenders, as the programme demonstrates a repeatable funding model for fleet replacement at scale.

Stagecoach has committed £29.3 million to introduce 110 battery electric buses across its Torquay, Exeter and Barnstaple depots by early 2026, supported by the UK Government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme and delivered with Devon County Council and Torbay Council. The programme includes installation of 48 high powered chargers totalling 7.2 MW of capacity, with Torquay receiving 27 chargers and becoming a fully electric depot, while Exeter and Barnstaple will share 21 units. Barnstaple will host 21 of the new vehicles, which will replace existing diesel buses on routes across the county.

Why it matters: The project demonstrates the scale of depot charging infrastructure required to support large fleet electrification, with 7.2 MW across three sites representing a significant grid connection and installation opportunity. The ZEBRA funded rollout offers a procurement model for regional bus operators transitioning to zero emission fleets with public sector partnership.

Stagecoach will withdraw service from Park Road and Hartop Road in Torquay from 1 February because its incoming electric buses are larger than the diesel vehicles they replace, creating safety and reliability concerns when passing parked cars. The operator is deploying 55 zero emission buses across Torbay and is working with Torbay Council to review the 35 route for possible alternative stops. Managing director Peter Knight described the fleet investment as a significant step forward for public transport in Devon.

Why it matters: The case illustrates an infrastructure mismatch that can arise when procuring electric buses, where vehicle dimensions may exceed those of legacy diesel fleets and force route changes. Operators and local authorities planning zero emission bus rollouts must audit street widths and turning circles to avoid service gaps or costly road modifications.