EVA England has called for “frustrating and unnecessary barriers” to cross-pavement charging rollouts to be eliminated as it responds to a government consultation on reforming planning rules for cross-pavement charging.

EVA England’s latest driver survey, focused specifically on cross-pavement charging solutions, shows drivers without driveways are being locked out of affordable electric vehicle charging by cost, confusion and council delays on cross-pavement charging.

The poll shows overwhelming unmet demand for technologies that allow drivers to charge safely from home even when they park on the street. Of drivers without a driveway, more than nine in ten (93%) do not currently have a cross-pavement solution – yet nearly four in five (78%) say one could realistically work for their home.

Despite this, only eight drivers surveyed had been able to install a solution. Many described repeated refusals, months or even years of silence from councils, or being deterred by planning costs that in some cases added around £500 per household on top of installation costs approaching £3,000.

Drivers reported frustration at being told such solutions were unsafe, while being tacitly allowed to trail charging cables across pavements with mats – something many felt posed a far greater risk to pedestrians.

Where cross-pavement solutions had been installed, feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Drivers described them as safer, easy to use, and transformational in reducing charging costs.

EVA England’s submission supports the Government’s proposal to introduce new permitted development rights for cross-pavement charging and associated domestic charge points, removing the need for a planning application while keeping local authority control over highway safety and accessibility. Drivers told EVA England that planning complexity and uncertainty alone was enough to stop them applying.

The findings echo broader evidence from EVA England’s earlier, large-scale annual driver survey, which shows the wider consequences of the charging divide. While most EV drivers with driveways find their cars cheaper to run, only half of those without off-street parking do – and drivers reliant on public charging face costs that can be several times higher than charging at home.

The consultation aligns with a growing policy focus on fairness in EV charging, following recent parliamentary debates and commitments by government to look again at barriers facing households without driveways.

EVA England is calling for clear national rules, lower costs, and better guidance for councils and residents so that cross-pavement charging can become a normal, accessible part of the UK’s charging landscape – ensuring the transition to electric works for drivers regardless of whether they own a driveway.

Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England, said: “Cross-pavement charging could unlock affordable home charging for millions of households, yet too many drivers are stuck waiting, paying more, or putting off going electric entirely. This consultation is a real opportunity to remove one of the most frustrating and unnecessary barriers drivers face. We hope the Government will act on it.”