HOUSEHOLDS in Tameside without off-street parking could soon have a new way to charge an electric vehicle outside their homes.
The council has approved the installation of cross-pavement charging channels for eligible residents, with an initial trial of around 150 installations expected to launch in early 2027.
The channels are designed to allow charging cables to cross the pavement safely, helping people who cannot park on their own driveways access more affordable home charging.
Residents living in terraced housing or other properties without usable off-street parking will be able to apply once the scheme opens.
Successful applicants will pay a one-off £600 fee, which will cover the council’s maintenance of the channel over a 10-year period. However, the scheme will not provide residents with a charging point or guarantee them a parking space.
The council will install, own and maintain the channel, while residents will need to arrange and pay for their own home chargepoint, charging cable and any necessary electrical work or permissions.
Applications will be subject to eligibility and site-suitability checks, with the number of installations dependent on final costs, demand and whether individual locations are suitable.
The council is also warning residents that having a channel installed will not reserve an on-street parking space.
The scheme is being supported by funding from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and forms part of Tameside’s adopted EV Infrastructure Strategy 2026–2031.
The strategy aims to reduce barriers to electric vehicle ownership and improve access to home charging where it can be delivered safely.
Councillor Laura Boyle, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Environmental Services and Neighbourhoods, said: “Making EV charging more accessible to our residents is an important step forward for us as a borough. We are working towards the goal of being Net Zero by 2038, and this scheme will enable more residents to explore greener travel options.”
Councillor Stephen Homer, Executive Member for Towns, Transport and Connectivity, added: “We are excited to receive this funding to help develop EV charging infrastructure across our towns. It is an important step in ensuring Tameside continues to modernise and improve as a borough, while supporting the transition to more sustainable transport options for our residents.”
The council says the scheme will be kept under review as new technologies and further options are developed. Further information about eligibility and how to apply will be published on the council’s website closer to the launch date.