The Department for Transport confirmed the change
A driveway rule change for homes across England is now in force.
In an effort to speed up the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging points, the Department for Transport confirmed that planning permission was no longer necessary for their installation in various locations across England.
The relaxation covers private residential driveways, workplaces and public streets and started this time last year. The objective was to remove the bureaucratic obstacles that had been slowing the expansion of charging points, with reports indicating that securing planning permission from councils for public installations can take as long as nine months.
Improving public charging infrastructure is considered essential in persuading more motorists, especially those without off-street parking, to make the switch to electric vehicles.
According to a report released by the National Audit Office in December 2024, the deployment of public EV chargers is on course to meet the Department for Transport’s estimated minimum target of 300,000 by 2030. The Government has pledged to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030.
Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads at the time the change was announced, said: “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.
“We continue to make the switch to EVs easier, cheaper and better by investing over £2.3 billion to support drivers and back British carmakers through international trade deals, creating jobs, boosting investment and securing our future.”
Lewis Gardiner, operations director at Osprey Charging Network, praised the announcement when it was confirmed as “a hugely welcome and practical change that will make a real difference on the ground”.
He went on to say: “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.”
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, stressed that the Government must do “all it can” to increase the number of EV chargers, pointing out that relaxing planning regulations “will help accelerate installations”.
He added: “The crucial element is ensuring grid connection in a timely manner. This is especially important in rural locations and areas where there is no dedicated off-street parking.”
RAC’s senior policy officer Rod Dennis welcomed the announcement, stating that encouraging more motorists to opt for an EV as their next vehicle depends on “removing the obstacles some people face”.
Nevertheless, he warned that the “relatively high cost of public charging… still needs to be tackled”.
