Objective 1: Embracing the future

Summary of Objective

There are many interesting and progressive trials of new technology planned or rolled out in Norfolk since the adoption of the LTP4. An important part of this objective is to continue to explore options and funding opportunities, as many of the actions are ongoing. 

Partnership working has been a highlight for this year for this objective. Successful partnerships with district and borough councils, service providers and other organisations have helped in attracting funding. Partnerships have also driven trials of new technology and promoted the benefits of projects to a new audience.

Policies

• Policy 1: We'll plan and prepare the county for future challenges and changes to ensure the best for our society, environment and economy. We'll actively review these developments through time.
• Policy 2: The priority for reducing emissions will be to support a shift to more sustainable modes and more efficient vehicles, including lower carbon technology and cleaner fuels. This includes the facilitation of necessary infrastructure.
• Policy 3: We'll embrace innovation and new technologies and use them proactively to achieve our vision. This includes responding to new targets set by the recently adopted environmental policy.
• Policy 4: We'll work with people to shape the way they travel, why they're travelling and whether they need to travel. We'll encourage behaviour change and interventions that can help to increase the use of sustainable transport.

Delivery highlights

Zero emission funding

In March 2022 Norwich became one of only three cities in the country to secure £500,000 Zero Emission Transport City (ZETC) development funding from the Government. This was for feasibility studies to look at benefits and impacts that a zero-emission zone in Norwich city centre could bring. 

There is an update on the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme under Objective 3.

Electric vehicle infrastructure

Norfolk's electric vehicle infrastructure received a boost from two sources in 2023. These were a £1.1 million investment from the Department for Transport LEVI (Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) Pilot fund and a £175,000 bid to the Norfolk Infrastructure Fund. A successful bid was also made to the main LEVI capital fund allocation in 2024, which secured £6.48 million. 

The Norfolk Rural Electric Vehicle Charge Point Pilot Scheme will increase the availability of public electric vehicle charging point (EVCP) facilities in rural communities. It has been developed in partnership with supplier Anglia Car Charging who will be providing match funding for the scheme. We'll also be working with the Broads Authority to identify locations with boat charging provision. Charge points are being rolled out in residential areas of Norwich where there is a lack of off-street parking.

NCC adopted electric vehicle parking standards for new workplaces and other new non-residential developments.

Procurement to deliver 'Charge Collective', the regional pilot looking to promote on-street charge points for electric vehicles began and was awarded in December 2022. The delivery phase started in 2023. 

Plug In Norfolk is a collective initiative which gives local businesses and organisations access to competitive maintenance and support packages for electric vehicle charge points (EVCPs). Working with partner Anglia Car Charging this project increased the number of residents and visitors to rural Norfolk with access to EVCPs. It will increase availability of EVCPs by taking advantage of public and private sector infrastructure.

Two installations (three EVCPs) were completed using Norfolk Infrastructure Fund (NIF) funding, and five more surveys were carried out, one location being explored for a rural rapid charger. 

Four sites (providing seven charge points) has been completed using Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Pilot funding. There are 10 more at various stages of enquiry, survey or tendering. More than a dozen district council sites are at various stages of investigation for installations, including in tourist areas. Two P&R solar carport sites are currently out to tender and quotes are due back in July. The Broads Authority have received LEVI funding for progression of waterways boat chargers.

Travel Norfolk website

The Travel Norfolk Website launched in July 2022 with its first campaign "Good Journey". This is helping people to confidently choose to travel in the county using sustainable modes of transport. 

A county-wide promotional campaign between 11 September and 31 December 2023 resulted in an uplift in total users, page views and journeys planned compared with the initial launch activity. 

In total in year one (1 August 2023 - 31 July 2024) more than 23,000 journeys were planned using the Travel Norfolk journey planner and more than 28,000 people have used the site. 

Mobile infrastructure

NCC continued to work with the Shared Rural Network (SRN) and the four mobile network operators, promoting mobile infrastructure in Norfolk. We engaged with all four mobile network operators to promote mobile coverage in Norfolk. We also started to develop a licence for mobile operators to use street lighting columns to install mobile small cell technology to boost coverage.

We've installed mobile monitoring equipment within 14 refuse lorries (two per district) and two fire appliances. This is to gather mobile coverage data as they travel the county. We'll use this data to lobby Ofcom, who issue licences under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006. It will also let us provide Mobile Network Operators with up-to-date coverage maps.

Winter Service Policy

We've achieved the action to review the Winter Service Policy.

Road construction

We're now using warm asphalt in construction. This has environmental benefits as it reduces CO2 emissions by using fewer fossil fuels and lowers mixing temperature during the manufacturing process. 

Connected and autonomous vehicles

We established a connection with the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles and attended a workshop in March 2023. This has led to further exploratory work and engagement with the Centre and opened conversations with other organisations such as Connected Places Catapult.

Work for next period

We'll continue to seek out funding for innovative technologies to lead on adapting, as well as be responsive, to change. We'll apply for further rounds of funding for electric buses and EV infrastructure. We're working with a partner that's interested in operating delivery robots in urban areas, in a similar way to their use in other UK cities.

We're currently facilitating ultrafast charging on main routes. An Invitation to Tender (ITT) and lease is in progress, with NCC intending to go out to open tender for this site at a Norwich Park & Ride site. 

In 2023 NCC adopted the Climate Strategy which will create workstreams to contribute to this policy delivery.

The target for this Objective is 'Public satisfaction with transport and highway services'.  NCC has retained its good position in comparison to similar authorities, maintaining its position in second-top spot. This is based on 2022-23 NHT Survey for public satisfaction as 2023-4 data has not been released. 

The ratings overall have reduced. This could, in part, be a reflection that local highway authorities do not have the same spending power as before. This is due to the rising levels of inflation in construction outstripping the level of funding received, meaning a reduction in work programmes.