9:58 am, September 15, 2026
The Government announced a package of policy changes aimed at making home EV charging easier for people without a driveway.
Labour confirmed yesterday (Sept 14) that is is easing planning rules in a move aimed at increasing electric car uptake.
Following a consultation, new permitted development rights (PDRs) will mean homeowners installing cross-pavement charging solutions no longer need to submit a separate planning application.
Under existing rules, drivers who don’t have a driveway would need to obtain several different permissions from local authorities in order to install a cross-pavement charging solution.
These so-called ‘charging gullies’ allow drivers to run a cable from their homes to their vehicles without causing a trip hazard for pedestrians.
It is a situation which many believe has created a barrier to entry to the EV market, with drivers choosing against long and laborious planning applications.
The Government believes it has ‘streamlined processes and reduced costs for property owners and developers’ however, each installation would still require approval by the local council.
Reacting to the news, James Court, public policy director at Octopus Electric Vehicles, said: ‘Removing planning permission for cross-pavement charging is a sensible step and will cut an unnecessary bit of red tape for drivers without a driveway.
‘But it doesn’t solve the bigger problem. Councils will still decide whether these installations can go ahead, leaving us with a postcode lottery where one council enables cheap home charging.
‘With around 40% of households without off-street parking, closing the “driveway divide” means making safe cross-pavement charging available to everyone who needs it. This is a positive step, but there’s more to do.’
The Government has also proposed changes affecting public charging infrastructure.
One tweak will see multiple equipment cabinets for EV chargers being allowed to be installed in car parks.
Under current rules, just a single equipment cabinet – containing aspects such as transformers, control equipment and batteries – can be installed in a single car park.
However, the new rules would allow multiple equipment cabinets to be installed in a single site, freeing up the possibility of a greater number of high-powered electric chargers.