Transport Infrastructure and Local Authorities

Scotland

The potential role of local authorities in the area of intelligent travel has been in the news again over the last week, following the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) publication of updated guidance for local authorities in relation to its On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme.

This Scheme provides local authorities with funding towards the cost of installing on-street residential chargepoints for plug-in electric vehicles and is available to local authorities throughout the UK, subject to certain conditions as set out in the guidance.

The Guidance invites local authorities to submit applications for the Scheme, which is aimed at increasing the availability of plug-in vehicle charging infrastructure in residential areas for those who do not have access to off-street parking and so are unable to charge at home. It is intended that the grant funding is used to part-fund the procurement and installation of the infrastructure, in line with OLEV’s minimum technical specifications.

Guidance states that all local authorities are welcome to apply to take part in OLEV schemes, but that where any applicant local authorities have received other specific funding for on-street residential chargepoints they will need to demonstrate the additional funding is appropriate. The funding available will likely only cover part of the capital costs involved with procuring and installing the infrastructure, meaning the additional capital costs and ongoing running costs will need to be borne by the local authority.

We expect funding for infrastructure investment to be a key focus of the Scottish Government’s ongoing National Transport Strategy review. It will likely be early 2019 when a draft successor National Transport Strategy (NTS2) will be published for public consultation. Following this consultation, the Scottish Government expects the finalised NTS2 to be delivered in summer 2019.

Our e-guide to electric vehicles can be accessed here.