Labour has announced new measures for electric car owners across the UK that could have a major impact on homeowners and renters without driveways.
In response to a consultation first launched in 2025, the Government has confirmed that it will move forward with certain measures later this year.
Labour originally suggested that changes should be made to permitted development rights (PDRs) to make it easier for people to charge their electric vehicles at home.
It outlined that this would allow certain building works to be carried out without the need to submit a planning application, allowing for the whole process to be more streamlined.
The consultation specifically looked at changing PDRs to allow multiple units of equipment housing or storage units for EV chargepoints in non-domestic, off-street car parks and the installation of cross-pavement solutions and associated domestic chargers.
It received 147 responses from a range of organisations, individuals, charge point operators and local authorities in response to the plans.
Following positive feedback, the Government will implement proposed changes for electric vehicle charging, including a new PDR for the installation of cross-pavement chargers.
These solutions have become more popular in recent years as a growing number of local authorities give the green light for gulley chargers to be installed for people without driveways.
Labour announced that it will press ahead with new legislation for home EV chargers
|
GETTY
The Government will also allow PDRs for an associated off-street EV chargepoint which is linked to a cross-pavement solution, and for multiple units of equipment housing to support EV charge points in a non-domestic car park.
It will also allow housing that immediately adjoins the highway to install a cross-pavement solution and associated EV charger.
New permitted development rights will increase the cumulative maximum volume for equipment housing in a non-domestic car park from 29 cubic metres to 45 cubic metres.
Commenting on the new rules, Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England, said it was “great news” for electric car drivers without a driveway.
New cross-pavement charging solutions will give more drivers confidence in switching to EVs
|
KERBO CHARGEShe added: “People who park on the street should not face unnecessary extra hurdles just to access the cheaper and more convenient charging available to people with driveways.
“EVA England has worked hard to put this issue on the agenda, alongside Baroness Pidgeon and our partner organisations including the REA and New Automotive.”
Baroness Pidgeon tabled amendments during the passage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill last year to remove barriers to cross-pavement charging.
The secondary legislation will be laid before Parliament this autumn, subject to Parliamentary time and subsequent commencement of the amended permitted development rights.
The new charging rules are set to be laid before Parliament this autumn
|
KERBO CHARGEMichael Goulden, Director of Kerbo Charge, said: “This is excellent news for every UK resident without on-street parking and goes a long way to tackling the ‘driveway divide’ in the UK.
“A number of local authorities are awaiting this legislation change before launching cross-pavement charging, so it can’t come soon enough.”
This was echoed by Ben Nelmes, CEO of New AutoMotive, who said thousands of additional drivers can now access affordable charging, helping to further boost EV uptake.
“This is an important step towards boosting EV adoption and enabling more households to access much-needed energy cost savings by going electric,” Mr Nelmes said.