Households without driveways can now save up to £300 on installing home EV charging, as new rules removing the need for planning permission take effect from Tuesday, October 21. The change, introduced under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, allows drivers to install cross-pavement chargers that run under pavements from homes to cars parked on the street.
The move opens up home charging for as little as 2p per mile and is part of the government's drive to deliver 'everyday fixes' that help with the cost of living.
Record EV Sales and Grant Support
September 2026 saw another record-breaking month for UK electric car sales, up 36% in a year, with nearly 100,000 electric cars sold in a single month. Sales have been boosted by the government's Electric Car Grant (ECG), which has helped over 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."
Savings and Industry Reaction
Cross-pavement charging lets residents without off-street parking plug into cheaper domestic electricity prices, helping them access savings of up to £1,750 on running costs. Changes to permitted development rights also make it quicker and cheaper for charge point operators to install larger, higher-powered public 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."
