Amendments to the Government’s flagship Planning and Infrastructure Bill have been tabled in a move to enable drivers without private driveways to access reliable and affordable home charging solutions.

Helen Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom and Ewell, intervened during the Planning and Infrastructure Bill Report Stage earlier this week, urging the Government to back her set of amendments to ensure the estimated 40% of households in the UK without private driveways aren’t left behind in the UK’s transition to electric vehicles.

The proposed amendments, which are backed by a cross-party group of MPs, would allow cross-pavement charging solutions such as covered cable gullies to be installed more easily, bringing them into line with permissions for public EV infrastructure.

The revisions would also extend permitted development rights to approved on-street setups, eliminating costly planning applications for renters, leaseholders, and other residents without private driveways.

They would also equip local councils with the tools they need to support safe, low-cost, accessible charging options for a wider group of EV users.

The Government did not immediately respond to the amendment during Monday night’s Report Stage debate. Following this stage’s conclusion, the bill will pass over to the House of Lords for further consideration.

The amendments were backed by a coalition of EV and clean transport advocacy groups, including EVA England, New AutoMotive, the REA and Kerbo Charge, who say the changes would make charging more equitable, and give more petrol and diesel the confidence to switch, while also taking pressure off the public charging network.

Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England, said: “We’re grateful for the strong parliamentary engagement on this vital issue which, if addressed now, will make the transition more affordable, accessible and successful, avoiding a two-tier EV charging system for UK drivers. Without these amendments, we risk leaving drivers without the luxury of a dedicated parking space facing very different and costlier options for charging their car. We hope the Government will consider taking this very sensible action during the next stage of the Bill in the House of Lords.”

Ben Nelmes, CEO of New AutoMotive, said: “Giving more people the ability to charge their electric car at home will help reduce emissions and achieve the government’s clean power mission, but more importantly it will help more motorists save hundreds of pounds a year in running costs when they switch to an EV, not to mention the convenience of being able to charge your car where you live.”