Parking

Electric Vehicle Charging

Strategy

The types of electric vehicle infrastructure the County Council would support is set out in our Electric Vehicle Charging Position Statement (2021).

The position paper seeks to balances against aspirations to increase access to EV charging against maintenance risks, and provide clarity on where DCC could use/seek funding to further improve access to EV charge points.

At the moment, Devon County Council do not support the charging of vehicles where cables would need to extend across for the footway or highway from a private premises. Section 162 of the Highways Act 1980 states that “A person who for any purpose places any rope, wire or other apparatus across a highway in such a manner as to be likely to cause danger to persons using the highway is, unless he proves that he had taken all necessary means to give adequate warning of the danger, guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.” These loose cables can be a trip hazard, and you would be liable for any incidents.

In addition, resident applications for on street charging are not proposed to be supported at this time, with support instead for the following

On DCC and Local Authority land
On street shared EV vehicles and peer to peer charging
Support on street charging projects (i.e. Rapid Charge Devon) where appropriate
Support measures to improve wider uptake.

Electric Vehicle Charging is a rapidly changing area and therefore we have a short position paper that could be revised when policy changes, such as the Peninsula Transport Strategy or Devon Carbon Plan. Learning from the current on street charging projects will also inform our policy going forward.

Locations

Below is a map showing all of the public electric vehicle recharging locations that have been agreed and proposed in Devon.

In 2019 a successful funding bid to Innovate UK, a government pot investing in science and research, enabled Devon County Council and a consortium of private sector partners to install and operate a number of on-street electric vehicle charge points. Together with Devon County Council the Rapid Charging Devon consortium consists of Wenea (a leading mobile energy operator), Co Cars, ZPN Energy (a British provider specialising in Energy Technology), Gamma Solutions (specialising in the development, construction and operation of green energy assets) and Regen (a not-for-profit centre of energy expertise and market insight).

Implemented over a number of phases the project will install state-of-the-art electric vehicle chargers in local neighbourhoods. Thus, bringing rapid, reliable charging to residents especially those who don’t have off-street parking.

Additionally, the partnership with Co Cars car club means that in many locations there will be an electric car available to hire by the hour or day, providing affordable access to electric vehicles for everyone.

Consultation

The proposals for each phase/area require a public consultation and details of each phase are listed below.

Exeter Phase 1 – Ref 5831

The consultation for this ran from 7 January and 11 February 2021. All comments received were considered by the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee on 15 March 2021. 8 of the 10 bays proposed were agreed for implementation and works began in May 2021.

The traffic order for these proposals has now been sealed, documents relating to the sealed order can be found via the link to sealed orders and searching for 5831.

Works to implement the charging points is ongoing.

Exeter Phase 1 Amendments – Ref 5992

Proposals for Cowick Hill and Whipton Lane have been updated and were subject to consultation between 18 August until 9 September 2022. It has been agreed to implement the changes as no comments were received.

Works to implement the charging points is ongoing.

Exeter Phase 2 – Ref 5885

The consultation for this ran from 20 May until 24 June 2021. Details of the proposals are below.

All comments received were considered by the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee on 19 July 2021.

The committee delegated the decision on some sites for further discussion with the local councillors, and it has been resolved to not progress with those sites (Heraldry Way, Powderham Crescent, Pynes Hill & Woodwater Lane).

The traffic order for these proposals has now been sealed, documents relating to the sealed order can be found in the documents below

Details of any modifications prior to the traffic order being sealed are listed below.

Modifications for 5885

Modifications for several sites have been proposed for this traffic regulation order. They are listed below;

Gloucester Road – advertised from 16 September until 7 October 2021;

Sydney Road – advertised from 16 September until 7 October 2021;
Resolved: To be implemented as modified as no comments received

Gladstone Road – advertised from 17 September until 8 October 2021;
Resolved: To be implemented as modified as no comments received

Pinhoe Road – advertised from 17 September until 8 October 2021;
Resolved: To be implemented as modified as no comments received

West Avenue – advertised from 20 September until 11 October 2021;
Resolved: To be implemented as modified as no comments received

St Leonards Place – advertised from 2 December until 16 December 2021;

Mallard Road – advertised from 2 December until 16 December 2021;

Aldens Road – advertised from 2 December until 16 December 2021;

New Valley Road – advertised from 2 December until 16 December 2021;

Blackall Road – advertised from 9 June until 30 June 2022;

Blackall Road Modification Notice and Plan

Iddesleigh Road – advertised from 9 June until 30 June 2022;

Iddesleigh Road Modification Notice and Plan

East Devon Phase 3 – Ref 5886

The consultation for this ran from 19 May until 24 June 2021. Details of the proposals are below.

All comments received were considered by the East Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee on 23 July 2021 where it was agreed to implement the bays.

Since the committee meeting, a modification was proposed for Younghayes Road, Cranbrook to convert one of the proposed EV spaces to a Car Club space. This modification was advertised from 15 September – 6 October 2021 and has been agreed as no comments were received.

Work to implement these EV charging bays is on hold.

Teignbridge Phase 4 – Ref 5888

The consultation for this ran from 10 June until 15 July 2021. Details of the proposals are below.

All comments received were considered by the Teignbridge Highways and Traffic Orders Committee on 29 July 2021 where it was agreed to implement the bays.

Since the committee meeting, modifications were proposed for Court Street, Moretonhampstead and Lower Brook Street Car Park, Teignmouth to convert one of the proposed EV spaces to a Car Club space. The modifications were advertised from 24 September – 15 October 2021 and have been agreed as no comments were received.

The proposed bays at Brunswick Place, Dawlish have been dropped as there is no grid capacity.

The proposed bays in Mary Street and St Johns Lane, Bovey Tracey have been dropped to explore alternative off-street locations.

Works to implement the approved EV charging points is currently ongoing.

Various Locations Phase 5 – Ref 6125

The consultation ran from the 25 January until 15 February 2024. Details of the proposals are below.

Proposed bays at:

Younghayes Road, Cranbrook
Gloucester Road, Exeter
St Andrews Road, Exmouth
Lower Brook Street Car Park, Teignmouth

Documents for this order are below: