EVERY new home and building in Southend will be fitted with electric vehicle charging stations.

Southend Council’s cabinet has approved plans to fit all new builds with the charging points.

This follows on from a public consultation earlier this year which saw an overwhelming 92 per cent of respondents agree or strongly agree with the change in policy.

Under the policy, every new residential building with an associated car parking space would need to have a charge point.
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Where there are more than 10 car parking spaces associated with the building, a minimum of one charge point should be installed for each home, with enabling infrastructure for each remaining space.

Carole Mulroney, councillor in charge of the environment, business, culture and planning, said: “Year-on-year we are seeing more vehicle owners turn to electric vehicles and we have to adapt our policies to meet the needs of our residents; something 92 per cent of our residents clearly support.

“The major development schemes in progress at the moment, including Better Queensway, Seaway and recently approved plans for Fossets Farm and Roots Hall all include many electric vehicle charging points within their plans.

“The supplementary planning powers are much stronger to ensure developers contribute to the increase of electrical vehicle infrastructure.

“This will help us reduce carbon emissions across the town and help us reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030.”