The British government has announced the funding for up to 75 electric vehicle plug-in posts across Peterborough.

The posts are part of a regional project to install 600 double-headed plug-in points across the east of England.

Peterborough City Council has been working closely with the East of England Development Agency to develop the £7 million plan, named EValu8.

This plan successfully bid for match funding and was awarded its full £2.9 million target by the government.

The first recharging posts could be installed as early as spring next year and will form a key element of the UK’s roll-out of electric vehicle recharging points.

The planned network will mean that any business or resident in the east of England would be no more than 25 miles from the nearest charging post by the end of 2013, making the whole region navigable by electric vehicles.

Councillor Marco Cereste, leader of the city council, said: “Peterborough is a growing city which is forecast to grow by a third in the next 15 years.

“The council is actively seeking to reduce carbon emissions and our emerging transport policy is already seeking options for promoting the use of electrically-powered bicycles, cars and buses.

“This initiative is an opportunity to drive forward our sustainable aims and will give further impetus to our environmental goods and services businesses.”