The UK government has set out a series of measures aimed at accelerating the transition to clean energy, with a focus on electrifying transport and heating. Announced by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband at the Good Growth Foundation’s National Growth Debate, the package includes reforms expected to affect electric vehicle charging access, particularly for households without off-street parking.
Among the proposals are plans to legislate this summer to introduce permitted development rights for cross-pavement charging solutions. The government will also consult on changes to building regulations to expand EV charging provision in new developments and improve access for renters and leaseholders. Alongside this, reforms to planning and grid connection rules are intended to reduce delays for clean energy infrastructure.
These measures come as the UK continues to address energy market volatility and seeks to expand domestic clean power capacity. Transport electrification is a central component of national decarbonisation efforts, with access to charging infrastructure often cited as a barrier to wider EV adoption.
Industry figures in the on-street and residential charging sector have welcomed the announcements, pointing to long-standing challenges around planning restrictions and access for drivers without private driveways. Cross-pavement charging, which allows cables to run safely from a property to a parked vehicle, has faced regulatory hurdles that vary across local authorities.
John Lewis, CEO of char.gy, said:
“Today’s commitment to streamline planning and grid connection rules, unlock clean power across the public estate, and make charging easier for renters and flat-dwellers all point in the same direction: a future where nobody is left behind in the switch to electric simply because of where they live.
“Lamppost charging has always been about meeting drivers where they are, using infrastructure that’s already on every street in the country. These reforms will help unlock that potential at the scale and speed the transition demands, and char.gy stands ready to deliver.”
On-street charging, including the use of existing infrastructure such as lampposts, has been identified as a practical solution in dense urban areas. It allows local authorities to expand charging networks without requiring significant new construction, although deployment has been uneven across regions.
The government’s proposed changes to permitted development rights are expected to provide greater clarity and consistency for both providers and local councils. By reducing the need for individual planning applications, the reforms could accelerate installation timelines and reduce administrative costs.
Michael Goulden, CEO of Kerbo Charge, said:
“We’ve long called for the government to cut through the red tape that has been holding back cross-pavement charging, and today’s commitment to introduce permitted development rights this summer is exactly the kind of decisive action needed. With home charging five to ten times cheaper than public alternatives, this opens the door to genuinely affordable EV ownership for the millions of drivers who’ve been locked out simply because they don’t have a driveway.”
Cost remains a key consideration in EV adoption. Home charging is typically less expensive than public charging, particularly rapid chargers, making access to domestic solutions an important factor for consumers. For households without driveways, reliance on public infrastructure can increase the overall cost of ownership.
The planned consultation on building regulations is expected to address future housing stock, ensuring that new developments are equipped to support EV charging from the outset. This aligns with broader efforts to integrate low-carbon technologies into residential construction, including heat pumps and energy efficiency measures.
Grid connection delays have also been identified as a constraint on the rollout of charging infrastructure and other clean energy projects. The government’s proposed reforms aim to simplify processes and reduce waiting times, which can currently extend to several years in some cases.
The wider package reflects a renewed focus on energy security and resilience, with clean energy positioned as a way to reduce exposure to global fossil fuel markets. Electrification of transport is seen as a critical step in lowering emissions, particularly as the UK moves towards its targets for phasing out new petrol and diesel vehicles.
For industry stakeholders, the emphasis on inclusivity in the transition has been a central theme. Access to charging for renters, leaseholders, and those in flats has been a persistent gap in policy and infrastructure planning.
The combination of regulatory reform, planning changes, and consultation signals an attempt to address these structural barriers. As the measures progress through legislation and consultation stages, their effectiveness will depend on coordination between central government, local authorities, and private sector providers.
The announcements mark a step in aligning infrastructure policy with the practical realities of EV adoption, particularly in urban and high-density areas where traditional home charging solutions are not available.
