The city council has successfully applied for grants from the Department for Transport.

The Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme aims to help deliver a “step-change” in the deployment of more public charging facilities.

Southampton City Council’s allocation of £1.63m, which will largely be for on-street infrastructure, includes a requirement to enter into a partnership with a charge point operator.

A cabinet report says the local authority recently concluded a consultation on an electric vehicle strategy. The results of this will assist in informing how the LEVI funding is invested over the next two years.

Meanwhile, the council has secured the full amount available from the government’s Traffic Signal Obsolescence Grant (TSOG).

The £580,000 will spent on upgrading the city’s oldest traffic signals where parts and technology are no longer supported with the latest equipment.

The report says junctions that could be upgraded include Civic Centre Place where Havelock Road, Western Esplanade and Portland Terrace meet.

Specifics on where the investment will be made are set to be developed with the council’s strategic highways partner, the report said.

Cabinet approval is required to accept the grants as they are between £500,000 and £2m, respectively.

Not accepting the money would result in a “significant shortfall” in electric vehicle infrastructure across the city. There is no capacity in existing budgets to carry out this work.