UK proposes easier home EV charging for households without driveways

The government has unveiled proposals to make it easier and cheaper for households without driveways to install home electric vehicle chargers by removing the need for planning permission for cross-pavement charging gullies and requiring EV provision in newly built covered car parks. Announced on Wednesday, the measures form part of a package aimed at expanding charging infrastructure, cutting costs for drivers and encouraging wider EV uptake. A public consultation on the proposals will be launched shortly, officials said.

Cross-pavement charging gullies are covered conduits that allow a domestic charging cable to pass under a pavement from a property to a kerbside parking space without obstructing pedestrians. Ministers say scrapping the planning permission requirement could save drivers up to £250 in application fees and allow many households to access cheaper domestic electricity rates rather than relying on pricier public chargers. The government has already put a £25 million grant scheme in place to support local councils in installing these covered gullies.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the reforms would improve infrastructure, increase chargepoints and open up...