Our Electric Vehicle Strategy

Find out about our plans to install more charging stations in Westmorland and Furness.

Making charging accessible for everyone

We’re committed to building an inclusive and accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging network. This will ensure that everyone - residents, businesses and visitors - can make the switch to EVs when they’re ready. For residents without off-street parking, this will include on-street solutions and community hubs.

Why electric vehicles matter 

The UK Government declared a climate emergency in 2019 and committed to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Although actions such as tree planting or carbon capture technologies can offset some emissions, we must reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we emit in the first place. 

Transport is the largest emitting sector of the UK economy, so from 2035 you will no longer be able to buy a new petrol car or van. Manufacturers are responding to this by expanding their EV ranges, so we need a strong charging network to support this shift to cleaner transport.

The benefits of electric vehicles

EVs offer many benefits, such as: 

  • less maintenance – electric motors have fewer moving parts. This reduces servicing needs and increases vehicle longevity
  • convenience – charging at home allows drivers to ‘refuel’ overnight. Public chargepoints are becoming more widely available in our area for people who do not have a home charger
  • less noise – EVs are significantly quieter at low speeds. This reduces noise pollution and improves health

Our Electric Vehicle Strategy 

Part one

Read part one of our EV Strategy (PDF , 502KB)

The first part of our strategy was approved by the Council in November 2023.  In the document, we outlined why we need an EV strategy and set out our long-term goals. 

Electric Vehicle Strategy survey 

We carried out a survey in early 2025 for residents, visitors, businesses and other organisations. We wanted to understand how people currently use the EV charging facilities in our area and their thoughts about how the network should be developed in the future.

We used the feedback to help develop the second part of our EV strategy, to ensure it included what was important to the people who responded. 

Thank you to everyone who responded to the survey.

Part two

The second part of our EV Strategy sets out the practical steps we're going to take between between 2025 and 2030. This will ensure that EV charging is fair, accessible and meets local needs. It explains how we, and other stakeholders, are preparing for the shift to EV's in this area. It will also help you to understand how these developments might affect you. 

If you've not read part one of the Strategy, we recommend starting there. 

Read part two of our EV Strategy (PDF , 6MB).

The Council approved the second part of the EV strategy in April 2025. We've listed some of the key points and targets below.

Chargepoint expansion plans

Since March 2025, more than 85 chargepoints have been installed at 24 public locations on council-owned land. More chargepoints have also been placed on privately owned land and managed by private providers.

You can find chargepoints near you on Zapmap. 

Chargepoint provision targets 

We’ll support organisations to improve EV charging facilities in third-party car parks. This includes parish and town councils, public sector bodies and community groups. 

By summer 2027 we're aiming for:

  • 500 additional chargepoints across the area
  • 30% of households without off-street parking to be within a 3-minute walk of a chargepoint

By 2030 our target is for:

  • 1,548 additional chargepoints across the area
  • 60% of households without off-street parking to be within a 3-minute walk of a chargepoint
  • EV infrastructure in all Westmorland and Furness Council car parks 

Engagement and awareness

Starting in 2025, we’ll hold an annual ‘electric vehicles and chargepoints open day’.

Chargepoint location strategies

We will: 

  • ensure equitable coverage across rural and urban areas
  • prioritise areas with high levels of housing without off-street parking
  • deploy a mixture of chargepoint types and speeds to suit local needs
  • partner with the private sector to help expand the number of rapid and ultra rapid charge points on arterial routes and at key destinations
  • use our £3.9 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, primarily in and around residential areas with no off-street parking

Implementation timelines

We’ll appoint two chargepoint operators (around winter 2025) and begin installations by winter 2025 to 2026.

Our new EV chargepoint bollards 

We’re going to begin installing EV chargepoint bollards in pavements and car parks from summer 2025 to 2026. 

Our decision over where to place the chargepoints will be guided by practical and community-based factors. Where space or grid capacity is limited, we'll explore alternative locations or technologies. This will ensure that all communities have fair and convenient access to charging facilities.

In residential areas, we will: 

  • prioritise areas with no or limited off-street parking
  • aim to keep at least 1.2 metres of the pavement free, to ensure access for pedestrians
  • install chargepoints in neutral locations, to serve widest number of households 

We'll equip car parks based on:

  • local need
  • proximity to homes
  • expected length of stay

Suggest a new chargepoint location

If you'd like to suggest a location for new or more chargepoints, please email us:

EVChargingPoints@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk