The top 10 areas least affected by Andy Burnham's new £40 driveway update have been revealed, with London unsurprisingly at the top. The Prime Minister cut VAT rates on domestic electricity costs from October 1, with owners topping up their electric cars at home paying 0% VAT instead of 5%.
Least affected areas
Experts from Andersen EV previously suggested that the rule change could save motorists about £20 per year, although high-mileage drivers could enjoy as much as £40 per year off their bills. Data from the Open Road Partnership, comprising Vertu Motors, United Rental Group and Zenith and Enterprise Mobility, has looked at the areas affected by the updates, with the Makerfield constituency most set to benefit.
The study found that 86.9% of homes enjoy access to off-street parking or driveways, followed by Rawmarsh and Conisbrough (85.9%). However, the figures, seen exclusively by the Express, have also uncovered which areas have the least amount of off-street parking and are therefore least affected by Mr Burnham's VAT cut.
Top 10 areas with worst off-street parking access
The Cities of London and Westminster topped the list, with just 1.9% of households enjoying access to a driveway or off-street parking bay. Bethnal Green and Stepney were next, with just 7% of homes enjoying access to an off-street parking space. Poplar and Limehouse were third (7.6%), followed by Peckham (8.1%) and Bermondsey and Old Southwark (8.1%) and Vauxhall and Camberwell Green (8.1%).
The Scottish city of Glasgow was next, with Glasgow South the seventh least affected area, with just 9.9% of homes having a driveway or off-street bay. Glasgow East and Glasgow South West were next (both on 9.9%), with Kensington and Bayswater rounding out the top 10 (10.5%).
Impact on motorists
Many motorists unable to access off-street parking bays will need to charge up at public plugs, which are charged at 20% VAT. Labour has cut red tape on planning permission for cross-pavement solutions such as pavement gullies, but some local permission is required and many living in conservation areas will not notice any changes.
Reacting to the findings, Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu Motors, told the Express: "People's ability to switch to electric vehicles varies hugely across the country, with millions still facing very real barriers around affordability, charging and access."
