Richmond Council has officially launched an 'innovative' borough-wide scheme to help Richmond residents charge electric vehicles (EVs) more safely and easily at home.

Following a successful trial, the Council announced on 31 July that its rolling out footway channels, small, discreet gullies cut across pavements, allowing residents to route EV charging cables from their homes to kerbside-parked vehicles without creating a trip hazard.

The new initiative is aimed at residents who do not have access to off-street parking and is part of the borough's broader push to make sustainable transport more accessible.

Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Chair of Richmond Council's Transport and Air Quality Services Committee, said: "One of the biggest barriers to EV adoption is the challenge of charging at home for those without off-street parking.

"This scheme widens the opportunity for residents to make the switch to an electric car – with access to a price-competitive home electricity supply.

"Richmond Council is among the first local authorities in the UK to make this type of home charging solution available to residents."

The footway channels sit flush with the pavement and safely house EV charging cables while in use, helping to eliminate clutter and reduce risks for pedestrians.

The Council says the design allows for safe, convenient, and discreet charging without compromising pavement accessibility.

Residents in Richmond borough can now apply to have a footway channel installed, with full details on eligibility, cost, and installation available on the Council's website.

This scheme is a key part of Richmond Council's award-winning Air Quality Action Plan, designed to cut carbon emissions and improve air quality across the borough.

By making EV home charging more accessible, the Council hopes to speed up the transition to cleaner vehicles for journeys that cannot easily be made by walking, cycling or public transport.

The footway channel scheme complements other local infrastructure improvements.

Last year alone, 210 new lamp column EV charge points were installed across Richmond, bringing the total to 1,152 public charging points and significantly expanding the borough's EV charging network.

To find out more about the footway channel scheme and how to apply, visit Richmond Council's website.

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