Understanding Home EV Charging: Planning and Regulations

Are you a homeowner in the UK considering setting up an electric vehicle (EV) charger at your property? This guide will walk you through the essential planning and building control rules you need to be aware of.

Having your own EV charger at home offers incredible convenience, allowing you to power up your electric car right from your driveway or garage. These chargers can either be fixed directly to your house or come as a standalone post. Often, you might be able to install one under what's called 'permitted development rights' – which means you could potentially avoid a lengthy planning application – but this depends on meeting specific criteria.

Where You Park Matters: Off-Street vs. On-Street

The particular regulations for installing an EV charger at your house largely depend on whether your property benefits from off-street parking or relies on on-street parking:

• If you have off-street parking: You can usually proceed with installing a home charger under permitted development rights. This means you might not need to submit a full planning application. However, this exception might not apply if your home is located within a designated conservation area or if it's a listed building.

• If you only have on-street parking: In this scenario, permitted development rights do not cover your installation. You will definitely need to submit a full planning permission application to your local authority.

What if your charging cable needs to run across a public pavement? You'll likely need to get official permission from your local Highways Authority. They might approve your request, possibly with specific conditions attached. If getting this permission isn't an option, or if your request is denied, you should look into alternative solutions, such as using public charging facilities.

Some companies do provide permanent solutions for crossing pavements with charging cables. However, remember that even these require approval from the Highways Authority. Additionally, you might also need to submit a separate planning application specifically for the pavement crossing structure itself.