From Wednesday, October 21, millions of motorists without a driveway will no longer need planning permission to install cross-pavement charging solutions such as pavement gullies, following a rule change confirmed by Andy Burnham. The update, which applies to electric car owners, means only local highway authorisation is now required, cutting waiting times for installation.
New Rules Cut Red Tape for EV Owners
Under previous regulations, drivers had to secure planning permission to run a cable from their house to their electric vehicle. The new rules, announced by the Department for Transport, are designed to make it “cheaper, easier and quicker” to install cross-pavement measures, potentially saving road users hundreds of pounds.
The change addresses a significant gap in EV adoption: analysis suggests as many as eight million homes in the UK do not have access to off-street parking, meaning they cannot take advantage of cheaper home charging rates.
Cost Savings for Home Charging
Currently, electric car owners topping up at public bays are charged 20% VAT, while those charging at home pay 0% VAT. This makes home charging considerably cheaper, with road users paying around 7p per kWh compared to nearly 50p per kWh at public charging points.
The Department for Transport said the plan could help drivers save up to £300 on installation and open up home charging for as little as 2p per mile. Officials also stressed that cross-pavement charging will enable residents without off-street parking to access cheaper domestic electricity, potentially saving up to £1,750 on running costs.
Industry Reaction and Remaining Restrictions
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.”
A previous report from EVA England found that less than 1% of EV drivers are using cross-pavement technology, with 57% not even aware it existed. However, almost 80% of motorists without a driveway believe the technology could work for them, indicating strong potential uptake.
Not every road user without a driveway can benefit from the new rules. In September, officials stressed that those living in one of England's 10,000 conservation areas would still need to submit planning permission after the October 21 update.
