Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
I would like to update Members on the deployment of the £2 million funding for electric charging points that was secured as part of the two-year Budget agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.
The funding will be used to help create a publicly accessible national network of rapid charging points. The focus will be on locations on/near our strategic road network, with a particular emphasis on North-South and East-West journeys.
Following detailed information and advice that I have received and considered, particularly on my aim to lever in as much sustainable private investment as possible to support the creation of a national network, I am looking at a national concession delivery model.
The framework and specifications will be as innovative and inclusive as possible in terms of adding value to local communities and businesses.
I have also tasked officials to explore the feasibility of extending the deployment of the funding to charging points at park and ride facilities and taxi ranks to encourage and benefit public transport use in the wider sense.
Additional scoping, analysis and testing with key stakeholders, including local authorities, will now take place to set the strategic framework and specifications.
I see the value in placing a national network within a statutory strategic and spatial planning context and will look to have this reflected within the National Development Framework.
My intention is for Transport for Wales (TfW) to procure and oversee the concession once awarded on the basis of a strategic framework and specifications that Welsh Government will set.
My aim is for TfW to go out to procurement next Spring, when I will update Members further.