It is vital that house builders offer residents the chance to future-proof their new homes and install charging facilities for electric vehicles.
Last year, we installed 312 electric-car charging points on our developments, an increase of 71% from the previous year. This number is expected to continue to rise, in line with the growing number of electric vehicles on the roads and a subsequent demand for charging points.
The Government recently announced new plans to introduce more financial benefits for electric-car owners; such as cheaper parking through the use of special green number plates. It is hoped that such benefits, and a potential ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2040, will boost electric car sales - helping the UK to achieve its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Through the MyRedrow tool we offer the chance for charging points to be added to homes, and our Group Technical and Commercial teams have been making preparations to improve our electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Redrow has recently added hybrid vehicles to the fleet options for company car drivers, and there are plans to install more car-charging points at offices and sites. We are also looking to install a charge point in all Sales Area Car Parks going forward. Agreements are in place with Rolec and Pod Point, two of the most technologically-advanced Electric Vehicle solutions companies.
Installing more electric car charging points on our developments better enables our customers to make a swift transition from diesel to electric and hybrid cars. Promoting this switch also has the potential to improve the health of people living in our communities – because having fewer diesel cars helps to reduce air pollution and improve air quality. Redrow are committed to creating healthy places to live; and the Redrow 8 placemaking principles are founded on the concept that we must create sustainable settlements that will remain healthy, happy places to live long-term.
Across our communities in Yorkshire, charge points are used by electric-vehicle drivers on a daily basis. They are reliable, easy to use, and our customers love them. Last year, the Yorkshire division installed more electric car-charging points than any other division. Yorkshire’s Construction Director, Wayne Morris (who has an electric car himself) is a believer in the positive influence of electric vehicles and says “Providing electric car-charging points on our developments demonstrates a strong environmental commitment. This is just one of the steps we are taking to reduce our carbon emissions.”
The Yorkshire Division is also set to trial another low-carbon technology in the next few months; a new heating system for our homes that will be tested in preparation for the transition to low-carbon homes.
Over the next few years, Redrow is looking to invest more in charging stations and other modern technologies in order to help meet our environmental ambitions. You can read more about our commitments here https://www.redrowplc.co.uk/sustainability/our-commitments/
Olivia Ward, Sustainability Coordinator
