Search: Hackney Council

More than 20 local authorities, including Kent, Leicester, Worcestershire, Westminster and Hackney, refuse to permit charging cable gullies that let residents charge EVs from domestic supplies at 5% VAT instead of 20% at public points. The ban affects millions among the 9.3 million UK households without off street parking, particularly in London where EV ownership and on street parking are both highest. Energy secretary Ed Miliband has pledged to slash red tape and promote gullies, yet councils cite safety, legal and parking concerns.

Why it matters: The postcode lottery undermines the business case for domestic charge point operators and gully suppliers such as Kerbo Charge, Gul-e, Pavecross and ACO, fragmenting the market for on street residential charging infrastructure. Procurement teams and charge point operators face a patchwork of local rules that complicate rollout planning and limit addressable demand in high density urban areas.

Hackney Council has switched on nine 100kW rapid chargers supplied by ESB Energy, the first phase of a programme to deploy more than 50 rapid units by 2030. Eligible residents without home charging can access discounted overnight rates (1am to 5am) and preferential daytime tariffs through the ESB Energy EV Plug In app under a new Hackney Light and Power plan. The chargers, installed in existing parking bays and powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, are designed to serve larger vehicles including delivery vans and commercial fleets.

Why it matters: The phased rollout signals sustained procurement opportunity in a London borough prioritising rapid infrastructure for residents and commercial operators. Discounted tariff structures tied to a council branded energy plan may influence how other local authorities structure concession terms and resident engagement models.

Hackney Council has opened a public survey asking residents to identify preferred locations for new on-street EV charge points, aiming to expand its network from 1,200 existing chargers to 3,000 by 2030. The East London borough already leads London with 464 chargers per 100,000 people and offers residents a flat 59p per kWh rate or a £16.25 monthly unlimited charging subscription through its CPO partner Zest and energy service Hackney Light and Power. The survey will inform lamppost and parking bay installations designed to maintain pedestrian access.

Why it matters: Hackney's resident-led site selection model and ambitious 2030 target signal a procurement approach that prioritises community input alongside dense urban coverage, offering CPOs a blueprint for scaling networks in space-constrained boroughs. The council's dual tariff structure and existing density benchmark set competitive expectations for operators bidding on similar municipal contracts across the UK.

Hackney Council has launched an online survey asking residents to request locations for new EV charge points as it approaches the halfway mark of its plan to deploy 3,000 chargers by 2030. More than 1,200 charge points have already been installed, with over 2,400 resident requests previously shaping the network. The programme is delivered in partnership with Zest, which is fully funding, installing and operating the infrastructure, and the council has committed to placing at least 10 per cent of all chargers on housing estates.

Why it matters: The resident-led site selection model offers procurement teams a replicable approach to demand mapping, while the 464 chargers per 100,000 people density benchmark and estate allocation target provide useful planning metrics for local authority tenders. Zest's full-funding concession structure demonstrates a viable commercial model for dense urban rollouts at scale.