UK scraps planning permission for cross-pavement EV chargers, saving drivers up to £300
Drivers without a driveway can now install a cross-pavement home EV charger without planning permission, saving up to £300, the UK government says.
- £300
- 36%
- 190,000+
- 60%
What Happened
From 21 October 2026, drivers no longer need planning permission to install cross-pavement chargers, which run under pavements from people's homes to their cars. The Department for Transport says this saves drivers up to £300 on installation and opens up home charging for as little as 2p per mile, because residents can plug into cheaper domestic electricity prices. Cross-pavement charging can unlock savings of up to £1,750 on running costs, and the government frames the move as part of its bid to deliver 'everyday fixes' that help people with the cost of living. Separately, changes to permitted development rights mean it will be quicker and cheaper for charge point operators to install larger, higher-powered public EV charging hubs.
- Drivers without a driveway needed planning permission for a cross-pavement charger
- No planning permission needed, saving up to £300 on installation
Planning permission requirement removed for cross-pavement chargers running under pavements to cars parked on the street
Record-breaking month for UK electric car sales, up 36% in a year with nearly 100,000 electric cars sold in a single month
Deadline for responding to the government's two consultations on home charging
“We're saving drivers up to £300 off the cost of installing home charging by cutting unnecessary red tape. The EV transition is in full swing – sales are up 36% on last year and over 190,000 have saved thousands making the switch in the last year alone.”
“This might look like a small planning change, but for someone without a driveway, it could make the difference between being able to afford an electric car and ruling one out altogether. Removing the need for planning permission for cross-pavement charging is a really welcome and meaningful step towards a fairer transition. Our research found that 60% of petrol and diesel drivers without off-street parking would never consider an EV. Being able to connect a car parked on the street to cheaper home electricity could help change that. It's now up to local authorities and landlords to make these solutions easier to access in practice.”
“For buyers considering an electric vehicle, access to charging can be an important factor when choosing a home. Zoopla was proud to be the first property website to help buyers discover nearby on-street chargers and search for homes with EV charging facilities. The government's decision to remove planning permission requirements for qualifying cross pavement charging solutions is another welcome step towards making EV ownership more accessible, particularly for households without off-street parking.”
- Amending the building regulations on electric vehicle charging infrastructure, so charge points are installed in new and refurbished covered car parks
- Expanding electric vehicle charging access for tenants and leaseholders, with clear guidance for landlords on handling the process and possible mandatory requirements making it harder for landlords and freeholders to refuse renters' applications
Previously from Department for Transport
In August 2026 the UK government opened a review of its electric vehicle sales targets, consulting industry on the route to its goals. That review kept both the 2030 petrol and diesel phase-out and the 2035 zero-emission target in place while adjusting how the industry gets there.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Department for Transport's official releases.
Why this matters
For residents without off-street parking, getting a cable from the house to a car parked on the street has been the awkward part of going electric — and EVA England research found 60% of petrol and diesel drivers in that position would never consider an EV. The change affects drivers, landlords and local authorities, and lands as UK electric car sales rose 36% year on year in September 2026.
Terms in This Story
- cross-pavement charger
- A home charge point whose cable runs under the pavement from a property to a car parked on the street, used by people without a driveway.
- planning permission
- Formal approval from a local authority that is normally required before certain building or installation works can go ahead.
- permitted development rights
- Rights granted by government that allow specified kinds of work to be carried out without a separate planning application.
- Electric Car Grant
- A government grant that reduces the price of a new electric vehicle by a set amount.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.