Labour has unveiled plans which could make it easier for motorists across the country to install electric vehicle chargers at their homes without planning permission.
In a bid to boost the number of drivers with an electric vehicle, the Government has taken numerous steps to improve the spread of chargers around the UK.
The latest data shows that there are more than 87,000 public charging devices at the end of November, with support growing for chargers in residential areas.
Although many people do not have access to a driveway or private parking, they do have access to community chargers through dedicated EV devices or lamppost chargers.
A new consultation from the Government will ask further questions about changes to permitted development rights to allow for two main changes.
The first would allow for multiple units of equipment housing or storage units for electric vehicle chargepoints in non-domestic, off-street car parks.
A second query relates to the installation of cross-pavement solutions and associated domestic chargepoints.
The proposals aim to remove barriers to the installation of reliable charging infrastructure to ensure motorists have confidence in facilities around them, especially if they do not have a dedicated driveway.
The Government consultation on EV charger planning applications will end later this month
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Cross-pavement charging solutions have become more popular in recent years, as it provides motorists with an easy way to charge their EVs without a driveway, allowing them to easily thread a cable from their home to their car.
Industry experts have been invited to respond to questions on whether PDRs should be introduced for the installation of cross-pavement solutions to support on-street EV charging.
As part of this, the consultation questions whether any likely impacts should be considered if a PDR is introduced to allow for cross-pavement solutions.
Labour announced in October that it would be taking steps to allow for an easier installation of these charging devices by removing the planning permission currently needed to install the gulley.
Cross-pavement electric vehicle chargers are widely available through platforms like Kerbo Charge
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KERBO CHARGESpeaking at the time, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the Government was taking steps to make it easier for Britons to switch to electric cars.
She said: “These reforms will improve infrastructure for the EV revolution, increase chargepoints across the country and open up affordable home charging to thousands more households.
“It’s good news for drivers and a big boost for the growing British EV industry – cutting costs and supporting jobs to deliver our Plan for Change.”
The consultation also looks at equipment housing for electric vehicle charging, which refers to large cabinets where essential systems needed to run chargers are held.
It questions whether permitted development rights should be amended to allow for the installation of multiple units of equipment housing or storage cabinets.
At present, the equipment housing unit cannot exceed 29 cubic metres in size, exceed three metres in height, be within five metres of a highway, or be within 10 metres of a block of flats.
The consultation also asks if the proposed changes could impact people who share a
protected characteristic, including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
Organisations and key players in the electric vehicle charging sector are encouraged to take part in the consultation before it ends at 11.59pm on January 21.