UK rule change affects every driveway in England

In a drive to speed up the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging points, the Department for Transport confirmed that planning permission would no longer be needed for their installation across a range of locations throughout England. The deregulation covers private residential driveways, workplaces and public streets and came into force at the end of May last year.

The move was intended to ease the bureaucratic obstacles that had been hampering the expansion of charging points, with reports indicating that securing planning permission from local councils for public installations could take as long as nine months. Improving public charging infrastructure is considered essential in persuading more motorists, particularly those without off-street parking, to make the switch to electric vehicles.

According to a report published by the National Audit Office in December 2024, the rollout of public EV chargers was on track to meet the Department for Transport’s estimated minimum requirement of 300,000 by 2030. The Government has pledged to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030.

Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads at the time, said shortly before the planning permission rules were scrapped at the end of May 2025: “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.”

Lewis Gardiner, operations director at Osprey Charging Network, praised the announcement last year as “a hugely welcome and practical change that will make a real difference on the ground”.

He added: “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, stressed that the Government must do “all it can” to increase the number of EV chargers, pointing out that relaxing planning rules “will help accelerate installations”.

He added: “The crucial element is ensuring grid connection in a timely manner. This is especially important in rural locations and areas where there is no dedicated off-street parking.”

RAC’s senior policy officer Rod Dennis welcomed the announcement, arguing that encouraging more motorists to opt for an EV for their next vehicle depends on “removing the obstacles some people face”. Nevertheless, he warned that the “relatively high cost of public charging… still needs to be tackled”.