Changes to planning permission rules for cross-pavement electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions are being considered, following an increase in the home charger grant earlier this year. From April 1, the grant to cover the installation of a home electric car charger was raised to £500 from £350.
Earlier this year, Keir Mather, the minister for decarbonisation, said the new figure would cover around half the cost of installing one. Alongside the grant increase, there have been discussions about altering planning permission rules to remove further barriers for drivers who want to switch to an EV but are put off by the lack of a driveway to charge them easily.
Parliamentary Questions on EV Charging
Several questions were asked in Parliament earlier this year. Joe Robertson, Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight, asked: "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 April 2026 to Question 124238 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, how many applicants have successfully received funding under the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking; and what the total value is of funding awarded under that scheme."
Mr Mather responded: "As of January 1, 2026, the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking grant has funded 39 sockets with a grant value of £13,531."
He added: "The grant funds the installation of charge points at residential properties with on-street parking if they are also installing a cross-pavement solution. This grant is in addition to the £25 million Electric Vehicle Pavement Channels Grant for local authorities."
Consultation on Permitted Development Rights
Mr Mather also stated: "The Government has consulted on measures to reduce planning permission requirements for cross-pavement solutions, further supporting households with on-street parking, and will be responding in due course."
Further questions were also responded to. Shivani Raja, Conservative MP for Leicester East, asked: "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to improve the (a) accessibility and (b) affordability of at-home EV charging."
Mr Mather responded: "The Government continues to offer grant funding for those living in flats and rented accommodation, with up to £500 per charge point socket. The Government is also continuing to support drivers to access cheaper, flexible charging tariffs, both at home and in public. The Government set out a range of steps to support this as part of its Clean Flexibility Roadmap 2025."
Jerome Mayhew, Conservative MP for Broadland and Fakenham, asked: "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to expand permitted development rights to include pavement gullies for at-home EV charging."
Mr Mather responded: "The Department ran a consultation between November 2025 and January 2026, seeking views on changes to permitted development rights for cross-pavement charging solutions. The Department will publish its response shortly."
