The Government has confirmed new rules around residential driveways that eliminate the need for planning permission to install electric vehicle (EV) charging points. This change applies to households, workplace sites, and public highways, aiming to boost the installation of chargers ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
Removing Red Tape for Faster Installation
The shake-up is designed to remove bureaucratic obstacles that have slowed the rollout of EV chargers. Securing council approval for public chargepoint installations previously could take up to nine months, according to reports. The Government hopes that by cutting red tape, more chargers can be added to towns and cities much more quickly.
Government Targets and Investment
The Department for Transport has set a target of 300,000 public chargepoints by 2030. Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood, stated: "We're cutting down on paperwork to power up the EV revolution so that drivers, businesses and those looking to make the switch will have more chargepoints to power from and less red tape to deal with." The Government has invested over £2.3 billion to support drivers and back British carmakers through international trade deals.
Lewis Gardiner, operations director at Osprey Charging Network, welcomed the move as "a hugely welcome and practical change that will make a real difference on the ground." He added: "Removing the need for planning permission for essential electrical infrastructure like substations across the majority of sites will save months of delays, reduce costs and accelerate the delivery of the rapid charging hubs drivers need."
