The Labour Party government has unveiled a significant new proposal aimed at transforming electric vehicle (EV) charging accessibility for thousands of UK households, particularly those without private driveways. Central to this initiative is a plan to reduce costs to as little as 2p per mile for running an electric vehicle, coupled with planning reforms designed to cut bureaucratic red tape.
Streamlining Charger Installation for Renters and Leaseholders
Under the new proposals, renters and motorists who lack driveways could gain much greater access to affordable home charging solutions. The government estimates that residents might save up to £250 on application fees through wider measures facilitating the installation of chargers for those in rental properties or with leasehold agreements.
Transport Secretary's Vision for Fairer EV Transition
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasised the government's commitment to making the switch to electric vehicles more equitable. "Wherever you park your car, we're making it fairer, easier, and cheaper to make the switch to electric," she stated. Alexander further explained that these reforms are intended to enhance infrastructure for the EV revolution, increase the number of chargepoints nationwide, and open up affordable home charging to thousands more households.
She added, "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."
Leveraging Permitted Development Rights
The reforms build upon existing changes to Permitted Development Rights (PDRs), which allow certain building works to proceed without submitting a planning application, thereby streamlining processes and reducing costs for property owners and developers. The government has already adjusted PDRs to support the deployment of EV chargepoints, aiming to remove barriers to the timely and affordable installation of reliable charging infrastructure.
Current and Future Regulatory Adjustments
Presently, a planning application is not required for installing most non-domestic chargepoints, except in cases involving wider, large-scale development on a site. These PDR modifications have streamlined delivery processes and encouraged accelerated deployment and investment. To explore whether specific market segments could benefit from further PDR changes, the government launched a call for evidence in June, gathering views from industry stakeholders, installers, landowners, and the public on potential additional adjustments.
This comprehensive approach seeks to ensure that legislative frameworks keep pace with the escalating demand for electric vehicles, ultimately supporting a smoother transition to sustainable transport across the UK.
