Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Project
In November 2025, the Council partnered with Zest Eco Ltd. They are an EV chargepoint operator, specialising in the delivery and management of charging infrastructure for local authorities. Over the course of their 15-year contract with Southend-on-Sea City Council, Zest will install a minimum of 3,000 chargepoints through a phased rollout across the city.
This project represents one of the largest local EV charging schemes in the United Kingdom, backed by £1.4 million from the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, alongside significant investment from delivery partner Zest. Importantly, this investment comes at no cost to the Council.
With charging speeds ranging from 5kW to 50kWA, a variety of chargepoint types will be installed across the city. This is designed to complement Southend’s varying streetscapes. These include:
- lamppost,
- bollard,
- pedestal,
- residential rapid, and
- flat and flush chargepoints,
This mix of technologies will ensure residents can access charging close to home, with the aim being that all residents in Southend will be within a 10-minute walk of their nearest chargepoint.
As well as the delivery of on-street chargepoints, Zest will also remove and replace all existing chargepoints in Council-owned car parks with their latest, robust hardware. This will take place during phase 1 of the rollout and marks an important step towards establishing an improved charging network.
Alongside the delivery of EV chargepoints across Southend, Zest have also made several social value commitments. These include:
- jobs for local contractors and suppliers
- apprenticeships and work experience
- visits to schools and colleges
- support for activities such as tree planting and beach cleans
- investment in local businesses
Together, these new chargers will help reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and support Southend’s ambition to be a leading green city.