England has removed a key layer of planning paperwork for most electric vehicle chargepoints on private drives, at business premises and at selected street sites. Projects that once sat in council queues for months can now move faster, supported by more than £2.3bn of public funding and a national push to reach 300,000 public chargers by 2030.
What changed and why it matters
Ministers have stripped out planning consent for most domestic and workplace EV chargers across England. If you have a driveway, you can book an installer and get on with it. Companies can add bays for staff and fleets without a planning pause. Councils and operators gain simpler routes to expand on-street networks where they are needed most.
Most home and workplace EV chargepoints in England no longer require planning permission, cutting delays that stretched to nine months.
The change lands at a crucial moment. Drivers face a hard stop on sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the next few years, and the charging network needs to keep pace. Removing a bureaucratic hurdle unlocks speed, reduces pre-build costs and brings certainty to installers and asset owners.
Who gains first
- Homeowners with a driveway: faster installations, less admin and better alignment with cheaper off‑peak tariffs.
- Drivers without off‑street parking: quicker growth of kerbside and rapid hubs nearer to home and work.
- Businesses and fleets: more predictable timelines to fit depot and staff charging, improving route and duty planning.
- Installers and operators: fewer sunk costs before build, smoother roll‑out schedules and clearer investment cases.
The quick comparison
| Aspect | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Planning consent | Case-by-case approval often required | Generally not required for standard chargepoints |
| Project timelines | Public schemes could sit up to nine months in queues | Paperwork trimmed and programmes accelerated |
| Where it applies | Driveways, workplaces and many streets subject to local decisions | Driveways, workplaces and selected streets eased under national rules |
| Public charger ambitions | Growing network | Target on track for 300,000 by 2030 |
| Public funding | Existing schemes | Backed by more than £2.3bn for the transition |
The gaps still to close
Planning reform does not light up chargers by itself. Connection capacity remains the toughest barrier. Many prime sites wait for grid upgrades or new substations before a switch can be thrown. Rural communities and busy urban corridors feel that pinch first, as demand rises faster than local networks can expand.
Prices at public chargers also shape behaviour. The spread between a competitive home tariff and a rapid‑charging rate can be wide, especially for drivers who rely on public infrastructure. Wholesale electricity costs, smarter time‑of‑use pricing and rivalry between networks will steer the pace of EV adoption as much as paperwork relief.
Connection queues and the cost of public rapid charging are the two pressure points that could slow momentum.
What it means on your driveway
If you park off‑street, the process gets simpler. You still need a safe, well‑sited installation and a unit that fits your needs. A competent installer will check capacity, earthing, cable routing and siting to protect people and property.
- Check your supply: confirm available capacity and whether load management or a cut‑out upgrade is sensible.
- Choose the location: keep cables inside your boundary, avoid footpaths and remove trip hazards.
- Go smart: schedule charging for cheaper hours, balance loads and track consumption to cut bills.
- Think ahead: pick connector types and power ratings that suit your current EV and the next one.
- Confirm notifications: installers typically handle post‑install notifications to the distribution network operator.
National relief is broad, yet exceptions still exist. Listed buildings, conservation areas and unusual covenants can trigger extra steps. If that applies to your property, ask your installer to confirm whether any additional consents are needed before work starts.
No driveway? here’s what changes for you
Households parking on‑street should see a quicker build‑out of kerbside units and rapid hubs. The aim is simple: charging that fits into daily routines rather than special trips. As bays appear closer to homes and workplaces, drivers without private parking gain a more level playing field on price and convenience.
Business impact and fleet planning
Companies benefit from the same cut in red tape. Without a planning pause, employers can fit staff and visitor bays on predictable schedules. Fleets can set up depot charging that enables overnight top‑ups, tighter shift planning and fewer off‑route refuelling stops. Network operators also gain. If standard sites avoid routine planning hurdles, the path from design to commissioning shortens, helping reach the 300,000‑charger milestone and spreading coverage to areas that have lagged.
Work out your costs and savings
Control is the headline gain from a home unit. You can target off‑peak windows and match charging to your driving pattern. To estimate your costs, take your tariff (p/kWh) and multiply by either your car’s usable battery size or your typical consumption per 100 miles.
- Example: at 30p/kWh, a 60kWh top‑up costs about £18; at 65p/kWh on a rapid, the same energy costs about £39.
- If your car averages 28kWh/100 miles, those same prices equate to roughly £8.40 versus £18.20 per 100 miles.
Households often blend strategies. Many top up little and often at home, reserving rapid hubs for long trips. Businesses can run the same sums across their fleets to set policies, expenses and preferred networks.
What to watch next
Keep an eye on reforms to grid connections, which govern how fast new sites get energised. Pricing clarity at public chargers also matters, especially for drivers who rely on them day‑to‑day. As utilisation rises and more hubs open, competition should push costs down and improve reliability.
Planning an installation? Ask for an on‑site survey, a clear all‑in quotation and written confirmation that your project sits within the new permitted development rules. If you share access, or if your boundary is tight, request a plan that shows cable routes and how the installer will keep footpaths clear.
Extra pointers to get more value
Smart chargers with load balancing can protect your main fuse while running other appliances, which helps if you have electric heating or an induction hob. If you run solar panels or plan to add them, look for a charger that can prioritise self‑generated energy. Drivers who mostly commute short distances may prefer a 7kW unit; high‑mileage households could value a higher‑rated model for quicker top‑ups where supply allows.
Risk management matters too. Avoid trailing cables across pavements, confirm that rainwater drainage won’t flood your charger location, and ask for a demonstration of safety features and the app before the installer leaves. For flats or rented homes, speak to the freeholder or landlord early; the new rules simplify planning, but property permissions and wiring routes still need agreement.
