STANSTED Airport has been given the nod to become a location for a new plug-in charging point for electric vehicles.

The Essex hub is one of 1200 smart recharging points across the East of England after the project – entitled Evalu8 – received �2.9 million OLEV funding to drive forward the electric vehicle network in the New Year.

The region is leading the way in take-up of electric vehicles and the major funding was given the green light this week by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond. Projects in the Midlands, Greater Manchester, Scotland and Northern Ireland were also given the go-ahead by government.

With over �7 million now in place from partners including the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and other private and public sector organisations committed to match-funding plug-in points, work on installing the network of recharging points is scheduled to start in Spring next year.

A spokesman said the airport is intending to place charging facilities within its car parks which include: bookable parking spaces in the short stay car park; a valet parking and charging service for customers parking for longer periods; and charging points for car rental companies

The East of England forms a key part of the UK’s charging network, linking in with the adjacent charging points already being installed in London and Milton Keynes. As well as Stansted Airport, a wider charging network for electric vehicles will be based around Bedford, Cambridge, Ipswich, Norwich, Peterborough, Luton, Hertfordshire and Thames gateway in South Essex.

Retail outlets, public car parks, railway stations, local businesses and residential streets have already been identified as prime locations

By the end of 2013, all local businesses and residents in the region will be no more than 25 miles away from a recharging post.