The UK’s EV charging network has reached a pivotal stage. Billions of pounds of public and private investment have already been committed to expanding the network, and attention is now turning to practically delivering the required infrastructure at the scale and pace needed. Andrew Shepherd, Director of Resilience and Integrity at Openreach and Board Member of Street Works UK explains.
More than 120,000 public charge points have already been installed across the country. Government and industry are continuing to work to the estimated 300,000 charge points that will be required by 2030. Increasingly, this rollout will focus on expanding on-street charging for the millions of households without access to off-street parking, bringing more works onto residential streets and into local communities.
At Openreach, I’ve seen first-hand why this matters. We operate the UK’s second largest commercial fleet, have more than 7,000 electric vehicles on the road and have installed over 4,000 charge points at engineers’ homes and operational sites. However, around one in three of our engineers, like millions of households across the UK, are unable to install a charger at home. Our experience has shown that while home and depot charging are critical, a reliable public charging network is equally important to a successful EV transition.
Earlier this year, Electric Vehicle Charge Point Operators (EVCPOs) entered the street works permitting regime, bringing them into the same regulatory framework as utility companies. This is a natural step as the sector matures and reflects the fact that EV charging is an increasingly important part of the UK’s vital infrastructure. For many operators, however, the change also marks the start of a brand-new way of working.
Having been closely involved in the rollout of fibre broadband across the UK, much of this feels familiar. Fifteen years ago, our sector faced many of the same questions EVCPOs are asking today. How do you deliver critical infrastructure at scale, while minimising disruption to local communities? How do you build strong relationships with local authorities and other sectors undertaking works? And how do you navigate a complex regulatory framework while maintaining the pace of delivery?
The good news is that these are challenges that the wider street works sector has spent years addressing, and there is a wealth of experience that EVCPOs can draw upon.
Engagement with local communities must be embedded from the start
Street works have become an increasingly visible part of everyday life as the UK invests in the infrastructure needed to improve connectivity and deliver the transition to net zero. Whether it’s fibre broadband, upgraded electricity networks or EV charging, these projects are connecting people to the services they increasingly rely on.
With that inevitably comes some disruption, and in my experience, the biggest source of frustration isn’t the work itself but a lack of understanding about why it’s happening, how long it will last and what it will ultimately deliver. Members of the public want to know that the impact of street works on their daily lives has been carefully considered during the planning process and that disruption will be kept to a minimum.
One of the biggest lessons from the fibre rollout was that successful infrastructure projects include quality community engagement. Communicating directly and clearly with residents, businesses and local stakeholders before work begins helps manage expectations, build trust and often stops relatively minor concerns becoming much bigger issues.
As more EV charging infrastructure is installed on residential streets, applying that same approach will become key.
Understand the framework you’re working within
The street works sector operates within a highly regulated environment, with organisations working with more than 140 pieces of legislation and codes of practice. That reflects the complexity of delivering infrastructure safely while balancing the needs of road users, local authorities and local communities.
For operators entering the permitting regime for the first time, there is naturally a great deal to get to grips with. Investing time early to understand the New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA) and keeping pace with further developments will make projects easier to plan and deliver over the long term.
No organisation has all the answers, which is why sharing experience across the sector is so valuable. One of Street Works UK’s greatest strengths has always been bringing together operators, local authorities, regulators and government to exchange best practice, identify where guidance could be clearer and ensure the practical realities of delivering street works help shape future policy. EVCPOs being part of that exchange of knowledge will help strengthen the sector as a whole.
Collaboration is key to successful delivery
On any given road, statutory undertakers may all be planning works within similar timeframes. Without coordination, roads risk being dug up repeatedly, disruption lasts longer than necessary and opportunities to deliver projects more efficiently are missed.
Collaboration has been one of the biggest drivers of improvement across the street works sector. At Street Works UK, we have worked hard to champion approaches such as trench sharing and ‘dig once’ initiatives, helping to reduce disruption, make better use of investment and deliver better outcomes for everyone involved. We have also campaigned for the introduction of new types of permits to allow for collaborative works between multiple promoters.
For EVCPOs entering the permitting regime, there is a real opportunity to learn from these case studies and adopt these ways of working from the outset rather than developing them over time.
Getting the EV charging rollout right
Every infrastructure programme brings its own challenges, but many of the fundamentals remain the same. Success for the EVCPO sector will depend on understanding the regulatory environment, working closely with others carrying out works on the street and engaging openly with local communities.
By drawing on the collaborative approach and shared expertise that Street Works UK has built across the sector, EVCPOs can expand the UK’s charging network at the pace required while minimising disruption and leaving a positive impression on the communities it serves.
Andrew Shepherd, Director of Resilience and Integrity at Openreach and Board Member of Street Works UK explains.
