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Who Can Apply
LEVI funding is available to Tier 1 local authorities in England. That includes county councils, unitary authorities, and combined authorities. London has a bespoke process through Transport for London and London boroughs. Combined authorities receive aggregated funding for their regions.
The fund targets areas where residents lack off street parking and cannot charge at home. On street charging and public car parks are the primary focus.
How Much Funding Is Available
The core LEVI programme totals approximately £381 million. Around £343 million covers capital costs for chargepoint installation. A further £37.8 million supports capability funding for staffing, planning, and strategy development. The Autumn 2025 Budget announced additional EV infrastructure funding including £200 million for accelerated charging rollout and £100 million directed to local authorities across various schemes.
Regional allocations vary. The South East received the largest share at £53.5 million in capital funding. The North East received £22.4 million. Each region also receives separate capability funding for local authority resources.
| Region | Capital Funding |
|---|---|
| South East | £53.5m |
| North West | £51.0m |
| South West | £40.1m |
| East of England | £37.3m |
| Yorkshire and Humber | £36.4m |
| London | £35.7m |
| East Midlands | £33.7m |
| West Midlands | £32.8m |
| North East | £22.4m |
The Application Process
Applications follow a three stage process. The first stage is an Expression of Interest where the local authority outlines its charging infrastructure plans. The second stage is a full application with detailed project proposals, procurement strategy, and delivery timelines. The third stage is contract award and project mobilisation.
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LEVI funding operates through defined tranches with specific application deadlines. Tranche 1 applications closed on 30 November 2023. Subsequent tranche windows are announced by the Department for Transport. Local authorities should check the gov.uk LEVI funding page for current deadlines and their tranche eligibility.
What the Funding Covers
Capital funding supports the installation of public chargepoints, primarily slow and fast on street charging for residents without driveways. Public car parks are also eligible. The funding can cover hardware, groundworks, electrical connections, and grid upgrades.
LEVI funding acts as a de risking mechanism to leverage private sector investment. Tranche 1 projects anticipate approximately 69% co investment from private charging operators. Applications must demonstrate commercial sustainability with realistic revenue forecasts and evidence that projects can be maintained beyond the initial grant period.
Capability funding supports staffing and planning. Many local authorities use this to hire dedicated EV infrastructure officers, develop charging strategies, and manage procurement processes. Allocations vary significantly based on population, residential off street parking availability, and existing EV infrastructure. The LEVI Support Body provides dedicated guidance throughout the process. Contact levi@est.org.uk for application support.
How We Support Local Authorities
We work with councils across England to deliver LEVI funded projects. Our team handles site surveys, infrastructure design, installation, and ongoing maintenance. We also support the procurement and application process with technical input and delivery planning.
