Drivers without a driveway could save up to £300 when installing an electric vehicle charger following a major change to planning rules. From October 21, people no longer need planning permission to install qualifying cross-pavement EV charging solutions, which run under pavements from homes to cars.
The Government says removing the requirement could knock as much as £300 off installation costs while making home charging available to more people who do not have off-street parking. It claims charging at home can cost as little as 2p per mile, while cross-pavement systems give people without driveways access to cheaper domestic electricity.
Rising EV sales and savings
The change comes as electric car sales continue to rise, with nearly 100,000 electric cars sold across the UK in September. The Government said this was 36% higher than a year earlier. The Government says its Electric Car Grant has now helped more than 190,000 drivers save up to £3,750 off a new electric vehicle.
Buses and Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said: “We’re saving drivers up to £300 off the cost of installing home charging by cutting unnecessary red tape.
“The EV transition is in full swing - sales are up 36% on last year and over 190,000 have saved thousands making the switch in the last year alone. Cross-pavement charging means residents without off-street parking can plug into cheaper domestic electricity prices, helping them access savings of up to £1,750 on running costs.
“By slashing unnecessary red tape for these home chargers, the government is speeding up installations, putting money back in drivers’ pockets and revving up the transition to electric.”
Public charging and industry reaction
The planning changes also affect public charging, with changes to permitted development rights designed to make it quicker and cheaper for operators to install larger, higher-powered EV charging hubs.
Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England, said: “This might look like a small planning change, but for someone without a driveway, it could make the difference between being able to afford an electric car and ruling one out altogether.
“Removing the need for planning permission for cross-pavement charging is a really welcome and meaningful step towards a fairer transition.
“Our research found that 60% of petrol and diesel drivers without off-street parking would never consider an EV. Being able to connect a car parked on the street to cheaper home electricity could help change that. It’s now up to local authorities and landlords to make these solutions easier to access in practice.”
Dickson Abegunde, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Zoopla, said: “For buyers considering an electric vehicle, access to charging can be an important factor when choosing a home.
“Zoopla was proud to be the first property website to help buyers discover nearby on-street chargers and search for homes with EV charging facilities.
“The government’s decision to remove planning permission requirements for qualifying cross pavement charging solutions is another welcome step towards making EV ownership more accessible, particularly for households without off-street parking.”
Future charging measures
The Government has also launched two consultations aimed at making home charging easier and ensuring new buildings are equipped with chargers. One could give tenants and leaseholders a clearer, quicker and more consistent route to installing a charger, including guidance for landlords on handling requests.
Ministers are also considering mandatory requirements which could make it harder for landlords and freeholders to refuse applications from renters. Building regulations could also be updated to ensure EV charge points are installed in new and refurbished covered car parks.
