Government scraps EV chargepoint planning permission requirements

• The government has now helped install 18,000 EV chargepoints in workplace carparks
• Businesses will be able to install new sockets faster and for less
• The changes come on top of other discounts from the government to help install chargepoints outside their house

The government has scrapped planning permission requirements for drivers and businesses who want to install electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints, the future of roads minister Lilian Greenwood has confirmed. 

This move means more people will be able to benefit from owning an EV, which could lead to an extra £1,100 in their pockets every year, compared to running a petrol or diesel car. Greenwood said that by cutting down on paperwork, EV owners with a driveway will “find it easier, quicker and cheaper to install a private chargepoint”. 

With planning changes also extended to workplace and public chargepoints, businesses will be able to install new sockets faster and for less, helping increase the number of public chargepoints so that EV owners can charge more easily.

The changes come on top of other discounts from the government to help install chargepoints outside their house. 

Greenwood added that current government support allows people renting or owning a flat and those with on-street parking to receive up to £350 off the cost of installing a home charger. 

She said that getting this transition “right” and supporting the growth of the EV market in the UK will enable Britain to “tap into a multibillion-pound industry” and create high paid jobs and deliver on the government’s Plan for Change. 

“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 tap to deal with,” Greenwood said. 

“We continue to make the switch to EVs easier, cheaper and better by investing more than £2.3bn to support drivers and back British carmakers through international trade deals”.

The removal of planning permission for EV chargepoints follows the recent changes to the ZEV Mandate, trade deals with the US, India and the European Union. This helped the sector safeguard around 150,000 jobs in the automotive and steel sectors, Greenwood confirmed. 

It also follows 1,000 jobs created after a £1bn investment for a new gigafactory in Sunderland to further accelerate the transition to EVs. 

The government has now helped install 18,000 sockets in workplace carparks in the past year alone, with nearly 80,000 public EV chargepoints now available in the UK. 

Lewis Gardiner, operations director, Osprey Charging Network, said: “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.” 

For drivers, Greenwood said the benefits of driving an EV are clear: 

• Running an EV can cost as little as 2p per mile
• EVs are constantly becoming cheaper, with two in five used EVs now under £20,000 and 29 brand new models priced under £30,000
• Most new EVs have a range of nearly 300 miles – enough to get from London to Newcastle on one charge 

Written By

Tamara Birch Newsletter and sponsored content editor

Tamara is a London-based journalist and has written about environmental topics for more than four years. This includes advising small business owners on cost-effective ways, like solar panels and energy-efficient products, to help them become more sustainable.

She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment – all while reducing monthly costs.

In addition to adopting sustainable practices in her personal life, Tamara has worked in the retail B2B space to help independent retailers think about their environmental choices and how they can help improve their business. She now uses this knowledge to help consumers do the same.

Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.

More about

Reviewed By

Maximilian Schwerdtfeger Content manager

Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.

In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.

He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.

Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.

As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.

His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.

Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history and ghost stories. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.

More about