Browne Jacobson provides legal advice to Oxford City Council on largest UK public electric vehicle charging hub project

Browne Jacobson’s specialist government and infrastructure lawyers have provided legal advice to Oxford City Council on a high-profile infrastructure project which will support the City of Oxford in its sustainable goals strategy through the launch of an electrical vehicle (EV) charging hub.

Work has already begun on the Oxford Superhub which is located at Redbridge Park & Ride and is expected to formally launch in Spring 2022. The project, which is the largest of its kind in the UK will help Oxford push on with its ambition to become a Zero Carbon Oxford by 2040.

The 24-hour superhub will run on 100% renewable energy and is compatible with all EV makes and models. It will allow hundreds of EV drivers per day to charge simultaneously at the highest rates possible providing up to 300kW of power which can add up to 300 miles of range in just 20 minutes.

The Browne Jacobson project team which includes government sector lawyer and Legal Director, Alex Kynoch, and real estate partner, Zo Hoida provided advice on the contractual and property law elements linked to the charge point operators and the power supplier. Tom Bainbridge, founding partner of Lux Nova Partners, a specialist clean energy law firm also worked with the Browne Jacobson team on the project.

Alex commented: “We are thrilled to have supported our long-standing client, Oxford City Council in this exciting sustainable project that will benefit both its residents and visitors to the City.

“The council have very clear zero carbon ambitions that they want to achieve in the not too distant future so this new superhub will be integral in getting them to hit those targets and is sure to be a boost to the electrical vehicle market in Oxford and will help support the City in its drive to be cleaner and greener.

“This has been another great project that we have advised on which underpins our own firm commitments of driving forward the net zero agenda.”

Councillor Tom Hayes, Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford at Oxford City Council, said: “The Oxford Superhub demonstrates the unwavering commitment of Oxford City Council to reducing our own carbon emissions to net zero by 2030 or sooner. It also demonstrates our leadership in reducing the city's carbon emissions to net zero by 2040 or sooner--ten whole years ahead of the national legal target.

“We are pleased to see all of the hard work has finally come to fruition and are grateful to have support from Browne Jacobson's Government sector practice and all partners throughout the project as it has developed. As the largest and most powerful superhub in the UK, we hope that more Cities will be inspired by this project and will follow suit."

Browne Jacobson’s Government sector practice which is ranked by Chambers & Partners as a “universally good team punching well above their weight” is made up of specialist public law solicitors who work across all areas of the government sector. The practice offers tailored advice to over 200 local authorities, 50 NHS bodies and 10 central government departments and bodies.