Kent set for 10,000 new on-street electric vehicle chargers

Kent County Council is delivering a scheme designed to meet growing demand for electric vehicle charging across the county.

KCC’s strategy is to modernise transport and support innovation across the county, including a recent programme that involved installing 200 public chargepoints, mainly in car parks, across the county.

For areas where home charging is not an option, KCC has been able to tap into a national strategy that aims to expand access to on-street charging.  

More than £12m of funding has been awarded to KCC from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Capital Fund, making it the largest LEVI project in England for a local authority. The project will be delivered without drawing on funding from Kent County Council.

Peter Osborne, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We’re pleased to support this programme because it offers practical help for residents and prepares Kent for the future. It will deliver reliable and affordable charging within walking distance of their homes, which is particularly important for people who do not have off-road parking – and it’s being delivered at no extra cost to Kent’s Council Tax payers.

“Residents have already shared over 700 places in their local communities where they would like to see EV chargers and we’ll be assessing each of them over the coming months as the roll-out begins.”

The first phase of the roll-out begins in summer 2026, focusing on locations with limited off-street parking. KCC has awarded the 20-year contract to chargepoint operator Urban Fox to deliver the project, which will include installing 10,000 EV charging sockets across the county, with minimal disruption to local residents.

Urban Fox, part of the Balfour Beatty Group, will work with KCC and local communities to ensure chargepoints are delivered in the right locations, using a range of on-street solutions designed to fit sensitively into residential environments.

Oli Freeling-Wilkinson, chief executive for Urban Fox, said: “This programme represents a significant step forward for EV charging in Kent. Being awarded the contract to deliver up to 10,000 charging sockets is a clear vote of confidence in Urban Fox’s ability to deliver at scale while keeping communities at the heart of every project.

“Working in partnership with Kent County Council, we’ll focus on delivering accessible, reliable on-street charging in the places residents need it most, particularly for those without off-street parking. Our role goes beyond installation; we’ll be engaging local communities, supporting the council through delivery, and ensuring the network is future-ready, well maintained, and easy to use for everyone.”

Aviation, maritime and decarbonisation minister Keir Mather said: “We’re building a reliable and accessible charging network in Kent with over £12m investment to install 10,000 public chargers, making it easier than ever for local people to power up their EVs wherever they live or travel.

“We're also slashing costs and putting thousands back into people's pockets, with an extra £1.3 billion to extend the Electric Car Grant until 2030, saving drivers up to £3,750 on a new EV.”

Residents can continue to nominate their street for public chargers using an interactive map on KCC’s website: www.kent.gov.uk/onstreetev

The website also has more information about the programme and the option to sign up to receive future updates.

KCC will consider each suggestion made and discuss with the relevant district and borough council.