Drivers and businesses across England will now find it easier to install electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints, as the Government moves to cut through planning red tape in a bid to speed up the EV revolution.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that, from Thursday, new planning rules mean fewer people will need to apply for permission to install EV chargers. The changes apply to private driveways, workplaces, and public street installations, significantly easing the process for individuals and organisations looking to make the switch to electric motoring.
The aim is to accelerate the rollout of EV chargepoints, which has been plagued by bureaucratic delays. In some cases, it has reportedly taken up to nine months for councils to approve public charger installations.
With the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car and van sales looming, ministers are under pressure to ensure charging infrastructure keeps pace with rising demand. Currently, many motorists remain hesitant to transition to electric due to concerns about charging availability—particularly those without access to off-street parking.
Transport minister for the future of roads, Lilian Greenwood, 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.”
The move has received broad support from the EV industry, motoring organisations and environmental campaigners alike. Lewis Gardiner, operations director at Osprey Charging Network, called it:
“A hugely welcome and practical change that will make a real difference on the ground. 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, said the government should “do all it can” to increase charger availability. He welcomed the policy change but stressed that grid connections remained a key challenge.
“This is especially important in rural locations and areas where there is no dedicated off-street parking,” he noted.
The RAC echoed this sentiment. Senior policy officer Rod Dennis said:
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“Encouraging more drivers to make their next car an EV depends on removing the obstacles some people face. These planning changes are a good step forward, but the relatively high cost of public charging still needs to be tackled.”
A report by the National Audit Office last December found that the rollout of public EV chargers was “on track” to meet the DfT’s target of at least 300,000 chargers by 2030. However, campaigners warn that the pace must not falter if the UK is to meet both its climate and motoring goals.
Delvin Lane, chief executive of leading charger firm InstaVolt, added:
“Anything that helps remove barriers to EV adoption and gives all drivers confidence in the infrastructure – helping remove range anxiety – is a strong move in the right direction.”
As the government pushes forward with its green transport agenda, the easing of planning restrictions is expected to bolster efforts across the private sector and local authorities to enhance the UK’s EV charging network—making the switch to electric not just easier, but inevitable.
