Portsmouth City Council is evaluating more than 300 new locations for on-street chargepoints in residential areas alongside chargepoint operator Zest.
The potential locations are all based on resident requests with the proposed sites spread across residential areas throughout Portsmouth, ensuring communities all over the city can access simple, easy and reliable charging options.
If approved, the chargepoints will be installed on or near existing lampposts to draw power, with designated EV-only parking bays marked on the road.
The points will be publicly accessible to everyone and installed on-street in residential areas, and the council expects the first of these to be installed and available for people to use in summer 2025.
Only plug-in vehicles are allowed to park in the bays, and should be actively charging. Drivers will be able to pay using contactless cards or use the Zest app to start charging and are encouraged to move their cars once charging is complete.
Residents near proposed locations for chargepoints will receive letters to let them know about the plans, and all sites will undergo a 21-day statutory public consultation as part of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process.
If approved, the expansion will more than triple the number of on-street chargepoints in Portsmouth. It is a key part of the council’s strategy to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.
All currently available chargepoints in the city will also remain operational with their current suppliers at the present time, and the council is working with current operators and Zest to identify which chargepoint locations can be transferred to Zest and how soon they can take over operation.
Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“This is an exciting step forward in Portsmouth’s journey as a leader in EV charging infrastructure. By significantly expanding our charging network, we’re giving more residents the opportunity to choose electric vehicles, reducing emissions and improving air quality in the city.
“This isn’t just about improving convenience for EV owners—it’s about making Portsmouth a city that embraces innovation, sustainability, and a cleaner, healthier future for everyone.”
Robin Heap, CEO at Zest, said:
“Zest is supporting Portsmouth City Council to take significant action on carbon emissions and neighbourhood air quality.
“Our EV infrastructure partnership will serve residents over many years at locations that have been carefully selected for maximum community benefit.”
Image courtesy of Portsmouth City Council
