The Government has scrapped planning permission requirements for cross-pavement charging, enabling drivers without driveways to save up to £300 on installing an electric vehicle charger.

Under the new permitted development rights announced last month, UK residents no longer need to seek formal council approval to run charging cables under pavements from their homes to their cars.

Alongside this, changes to permitted development rights also mean it will be quicker and cheaper for charge point operators to install larger, higher-powered public EV charging hubs.

The move to scrap council approval for cross-pavement chargers follows a consultation last year, and enables urban EV drivers to access significantly cheaper domestic electricity rates. The move has been widely praised as a key measure to tackle the UK’s ‘driveway divide’. Previously, motorists without off-street parking were largely forced to rely on expensive public charging networks, which attract a standard 20% VAT rate. By contrast, home charging is subject to a temporary 0% VAT rate introduced on domestic electricity to ease the cost of living.

The Government said it was part of its bid to deliver ‘everyday fixes’ that help people with the cost of living.

Simon Lightwood, Buses and Local Transport Minister, commented: “We’re saving drivers up to £300 off the cost of installing home charging by cutting unnecessary red tape.

“Cross-pavement charging means residents without off-street parking can plug into cheaper domestic electricity prices, helping them access savings of up to £1,750 on running costs.”

Vicky Edmonds, CEO of campaign group EVA England, said it was a small but significant change that could help more drivers to go electric.

“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.”

However, the RAC said that while it was “a much-needed step in the right direction to make charging fairer and accessible for all”, it would not eliminate the fact that drivers have no guarantee of being able to park in front of their own home within reach of their charging cable.

RAC’s head of policy Simon Williams added: “And while the requirement for planning permission has been scrapped, residents will still need authorisation from their council, who will consider aspects such as underground utilities, making sure that an EV gully doesn’t interfere with gas, electricity, water or telecoms infrastructure, as well as ensuring that it isn’t a hindrance to others. So while the Government’s announcement does make life easier for some EV owners, it’s not a silver bullet.”

Williams also reiterated calls for the Government to cut VAT on public charging to match home rates.

“While this won’t make public charging as cheap as home charging, it will go some way in bringing down costs for those forced to rely on public chargers. Following the surge in fuel prices off the back of the US–Iran war and the Ukraine war, more people are wanting to switch to electric. The Government has a real opportunity to supercharge this by making EV charging more accessible for those that don’t have a driveway.”

There are now over 2,280,000 fully electric cars on UK roads, making up approximately 6.6% of all cars. Latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show registrations of pure electric cars are up 36% on last year and accounted for 28.3% of the new car market in September.

Alongside axing planning permission for cross-pavement EV chargers, the Department for Transport has launched two consultations to make home charging easier and ensure new buildings are equipped with chargers, so people can plug in with ease.

Tenants and leaseholders could get a clearer, quicker, and more consistent route to installing a charge point, thanks to clear guidance for landlords on how to handle the process. The Government is also considering mandatory requirements for landlords and freeholders to make it harder to refuse renters’ applications.

Building regulations could also be updated to ensure that charge points are installed in new and refurbished covered car parks in a separate consultation. Both consultations are open until 16 December 2026.