The lifting of planning restrictions on EV charging infrastructure installation is part of a wider plan to cut down on paperwork and ‘red tape’ in order to make it easier and cheaper for drivers to switch to electric vehicles (EVs).
In a new, streamlined, process drivers will no longer need to submit planning applications to to install electric vehicle chargepoints, potentially saving up to £1,100 per year.
Currently, nearly 80,000 public chargepoints are available in the UK – with a new EV charger installed every 29 minutes – ensuring all drivers are always close to a socket. Overall, the government is investing over £2.3 billion to drive the transition from fossil fuel vehicles to EVs, securing global trade deals to support the British automotive manufacturing sector, creating jobs and driving further investment.
More EV owners with a driveway will now find it easier, quicker and cheaper to install a private chargepoint and power up their EVs at home. However, changes to the planning system will also apply to workplace and public chargepoints, enabling businesses to install new sockets faster and for less, helping increase the number of public chargepoints so that EV owners can charge more easily, wherever they live and drive.
This is on top of already significant discounts from government to help drivers install chargepoints outside their house. Government support currently 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.
The government wants to enable the country to tap into the multibillion-pound EV market, supporting its growth across the UK.
“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” said Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood. “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 as part of our Plan for Change.”
The government continues to be on the side of British carmakers. On top of the recent changes to the ZEV Mandate, the crucial trade deals with the US, India and the European Union have given the sector certainty and helped safeguard around 150,000 jobs in the automotive and steel sectors.
It follows 1,000 jobs created after a £1 billion investment for a new state-of-the-art gigafactory in Sunderland to further accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, bolster Britain’s industrial heartland and boost growth.
Driving an EV can cost as little as 2 pence per mile, while EVs are becoming cheaper generally, 2 in 5 of them now being priced under £20,000 and 29 brand new models priced under £30,000. Most new EVs now have a range of nearly 300 miles, enough to support a drive from London to Newcastle on one charge.
“This announcement is a welcome step forward, and we are pleased to see the Government taking action to cut red tape and accelerate the rollout of chargepoints” added Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England. “Making it easier to install both public and private charging infrastructure is essential to helping more drivers switch to electric. However, to ensure EVs can work for everyone, further action is needed. Drivers without driveways still face significant barriers to affordable, convenient charging. We urge the Government to increase its support of the rollout of cross-pavement charging and extend legal rights to tenants and leaseholders, so all drivers can access and benefit from cheaper and more convenient charging.”
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