BCP Council closes consultation on first phase of residential EV charging bays

The consultation ran from 17 July to 7 August 2026 and covered proposed parking changes needed to support the council’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) programme.

The proposals form part of a wider programme to expand publicly accessible charging for residents, particularly in areas where drivers do not have access to off-street parking.

Parking controls are part of the charging infrastructure

Installing the charger is only one part of creating a usable public charging bay. Local authorities also need appropriate parking restrictions so that spaces intended for charging can be managed and enforced.

The Phase 1 consultation concerns the Traffic Regulation Orders needed for EV charging bays in residential areas. These orders provide the legal basis for changes to parking restrictions at the proposed locations.

It is an administrative stage that receives less attention than charger installation, but it can directly affect whether new infrastructure remains available to the drivers it was intended to serve.

Part of the wider BCP and Dorset LEVI rollout

BCP Council is working with Dorset Council on a wider programme expected to deliver more than 3,000 on-street EV chargers across the two council areas over five years.

Connected Kerb has been previously appointed to deliver the wider scheme, including the installation, operation and maintenance of the charging network. The programme combines Department for Transport LEVI funding with private-sector investment.

The current BCP consultation relates specifically to the first phase of proposed charging bays within Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

What happens next

Following the consultation, BCP Council can review comments and objections before progressing the proposed parking changes and individual charging locations.

As the LEVI programme moves from procurement and planning into delivery, similar local processes will be needed to turn proposed charger locations into practical, enforceable public charging bays.