Electric vehicle charging at new Swindon housing development

One of Swindon’s newest housing developments is preparing for a greener future with electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

Swindon Borough Council and Barratt Developments, which is delivering more than 3,000 new homes at Wichelstowe, have teamed up with Connected Kerb - a UK-based smart cities and EV charging specialist – to deploy technologically-advanced charging infrastructure across the site to help residents make the change to electric vehicles.

Infrastructure for 130 EV charging points is currently being installed and an initial 20 active charging sockets are being set up in shared and visitor parking bays.

Councillor Gary Sumner, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Infrastructure, Transport and Planning, said: “We have worked hard to create a modern, vibrant community at Wichelstowe with stunning new homes and a district centre built beside the equally impressive restored Wilts and Berks canal.

“But we are equally keen, through our partnership with Barratt Developments, to ensure the development is sustainable and supports our ambition to make Swindon the greenest town on the M4 corridor.

“New cycle and bus links form an important part of the wider Wichelstowe development, and this latest collaboration with Connected Kerb to install these new electric vehicle charging points is another significant step on our sustainable journey.”

Commenting on the partnership, Connected Kerb CEO Chris Pateman Jones said: “In the quest for mass transition to clean mobility, collaboration is key. 

"The Wichelstowe project brings cross-sector collaboration between a forward-thinking local council, leading housing developer, and innovative British tech company for a holistic approach that delivers for the present, while preparing for the future.

"It is an exemplary project that, if replicated at scale, would propel the UK to the forefront of global efforts in reducing the devastating effects of climate change – helping to achieve a more sustainable future for generations to come.

“As the Government looks to meet its ambitious housebuilding targets, while also delivering on net-zero pledges, the Wichelstowe project provides a blueprint for meeting these dual goals.”

Daniel Pavely, Wichelstowe project director for Barratt Developments, said: “The development required a solution that is flexible to rising demand and new technologies, so that we could install a small number of charge points immediately, but allow us to increase this number over time.

“Connected Kerb’s technology proved to be the perfect solution.”

The council was recently awarded Government funding to install 22 electric vehicle charging points in residential streets within Swindon.

New parking standards, requiring developers to provide Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCP) where there is a requirement for parking spaces for both new residential and non-residential developments, were adopted by the council’s planning committee on 26 January.