In continuing her Wales Climate Week 2021 activities, the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, has urged the Welsh Government to replicate the pledge made by the UK Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson MP, in his recent CBI speech to require new homes and buildings to have EV charging points. It is expected that another 145,000 charging points are to be installed thanks to these regulations.
As the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, Janet has recently highlighted the lack of charging provision in her formal objection to the amended plans for the proposed development on Nant y Gamar Road/Bodafon Fields. You can find out more about this work by clicking here.
Wales presently stands as 10th out of the 12 nations and regions of the UK when considering total charging points available, a worrying statistic that supports ONS data which finds that 43% of Welsh car buyers are currently putting off buying electric for five years or more.
Commenting on her Written Question, Janet said:
“New housing developments need to be planned to facilitate a transition from being combustion engine reliant to a cleaner and more sustainable society. Critically, this will require better transport links and improved low-carbon infrastructure.
“Having raised the lack of charging points in my recent opposition letter to a local development proposal, and written out to the likes of Cartrefi Conwy to review what work our registered social landlords are undertaking to assist in the transition, it is clear that urgent leadership is needed from the top.
“Under these fantastic proposals from the UK Conservative Government, all new houses will be required to have an electric charging point installed. Based on our commitment to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, I am clear that similar action needs to start in Wales now.
“Given that the administration’s Net Zero Carbon Budget further laid out the ambition that, also by 2025, 48% of new car sales should be zero emission, updating our building requirements would give a green light for change.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
- Written Question: Will the Minister confirm what steps the Welsh Government is taking to replicate the UK Government's requirement that all new houses in England should have an electric charging point installed?
Photo: Chuttersnap/UnSplash
