Conservation area drivers left out of relaxed EV charger rules

Drivers living in England's conservation areas are missing out on the government's relaxed rules for installing electric vehicle chargers across pavements, as those rules explicitly exclude these protected neighbourhoods. Residents in these areas may still need full planning permission for both the charger and the pavement channel that carries the cable, a process that can add cost and months of waiting.

The scale of the issue is significant. Nearly two million households sit in conservation areas, and Historic England does not currently hold data on how many of those homes have no driveway. Nationally, roughly 40 per cent of households have no off-street parking, which means a large share of the people the relaxed rules were designed to help may be excluded where the heritage protections are strongest.

Councils are responding in different ways. Oxfordshire County Council has paused new applications in conservation areas and is holding a few dozen applications that had already been conditionally approved. The council says reopening those applications could take days or weeks. Hertfordshire County Council is continuing to assess applications case by case, including in conservation areas, and checks proposals against the 19 conservation areas in St Albans. Its trial so far has involved three conservation-area applications, one of which has been approved while two remain pending.

For residents who do apply, the costs can be considerable. Hertfordshire charges a £200 non-refundable assessment fee. A pavement channel typically costs around £1,200 after subsidy, on top of planning fees, and planning permission could take up to three months to determine.

The charging company Kerbo has warned that the remaining planning requirements may deter electric vehicle buyers who otherwise would have considered a switch. It has proposed a simplified process in which applicants submit marked-up photographs rather than detailed drawings. Historic England has said it supports designs that are compatible with the character of conservation areas and is considering whether its guidance should change. The AA's Edmund King has called on councils to adopt a proportionate and simpler approach, arguing that drivers without a driveway should not face disproportionate barriers to charging at home.

Source: autocar.co.uk

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Eleanor Ellington

Staff Reporter

Eleanor Ellington covers public affairs, politics, business, culture and daily news for Nobel. The role focuses on verification, context, and clear explanations for readers.

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