Electric vehicle charge point operator Believ has installed ten Standard Plus chargers across Luton Council-owned residential car parks, extending a partnership designed to make electric vehicle charging available to residents without off-street parking. The chargers are ready for use, with scope to expand the network as demand increases. More than a third of Luton residents, 35%, do not have access to off-street parking, creating a clear need for public charging close to home. The programme is fully funded by Believ, which will also oversee planning, installation, operation and maintenance.

Charging Where Residents Need It

For households without a driveway or private parking space, access to reliable local charging can shape whether an electric vehicle is a practical choice. Luton Council’s new installations focus on council-owned residential car parks, placing infrastructure in locations intended to support people living in council housing.

The chargers have been installed in the carriageway, with hatching at ground level intended to make the spaces easier to use. Their Standard Plus classification reflects terminology adopted by the Department for Transport, replacing the previous term “fast chargers”.

Guy Bartlett, CEO at Believ, said:

“By expanding the network, we’re helping more residents make the switch. It will also help reduce road transport emissions and support cleaner air for all across the community.”

Accessible Infrastructure Standards

The new charge points are PAS 1899 compliant. The specification provides guidance for building accessible EV charging infrastructure in the UK, an important consideration for public networks intended to serve a wide range of residents.

Accessible provision is particularly relevant in residential areas, where a charge point must work for people with different mobility needs while fitting into existing streets and parking arrangements. The carriageway installation and ground-level hatching form part of the practical design of the Luton sites.

Believ’s role covers the full delivery process, from early planning through to long-term maintenance. That model allows the council to add charging infrastructure without taking on the capital cost of installation or responsibility for operating the network.

Supporting Council Housing Residents

Luton Council has positioned the first ten chargers as targeted provision for residents in council housing. The initiative responds directly to the difference in charging access between people with off-street parking and those who rely on shared public spaces.

The council is also considering further expansion as usage and demand develop. A scalable network offers a route to add more charging points where they are needed, rather than limiting provision to the initial installations.

Cllr Adrees Latif, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development and Highways at Luton Council, said:

“Access to convenient EV charging is an important part of supporting residents who want to make the switch to an electric vehicle, but who may not have their own driveway or off-street parking.

“These new charge points are the first we have installed specifically to support residents living in council housing, helping to make EV charging more accessible in locations where it is needed.

“This is part of our wider work to improve EV charging provision across Luton and support residents in making more sustainable travel choices. We will continue to look at opportunities to expand the charging network and make it easier for more people to make the transition to electric vehicles.”

Part Of A Wider Strategy

The partnership contributes to Luton Council’s sustainability strategy, which targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Its stated priorities include expanding residential EV charging hubs, moving the council fleet and public transport towards electric vehicles, and achieving a 100% low-carbon airport fleet by 2030.

Road transport emissions and local air quality are central considerations in this work. Public charging in residential settings can give more households an opportunity to consider electric transport, including those who cannot charge at home overnight.

Believ’s installation programme also reflects the practical value of partnerships between local authorities and charge point operators. The council can focus on its transport and sustainability objectives while the operator takes responsibility for delivering and maintaining the charging network.

A Foundation For Further Growth

The ten chargers provide an initial base for Luton’s council housing charging provision, while leaving room for the network to grow. As more residents consider electric vehicles, accessible public charge points will remain an important part of making that transition available across the community.

By concentrating on neighbourhoods where off-street parking is less common, Believ and Luton Council are addressing a specific barrier to electric vehicle adoption. The project combines local access, inclusive infrastructure guidance and long-term network management in support of the council’s 2040 net-zero target.