Approved Document S, the technical guidance covering infrastructure for charging electric vehicles under Part S of the Building Regulations, takes effect in England on 15 June 20221. The document was published in December 2021 and its stated date valid from is 15 June 20221.
The document sets out charge point and installation requirements for electric vehicles in Part S to the Building Regulations1. According to the Planning Portal, it applies to new residential and non-residential buildings; buildings undergoing a material change of use to dwellings; residential and non-residential buildings undergoing major renovation; and mixed-use buildings that are either new, or undergoing major renovation1.
"This approved document takes effect on 15 June 2022."
The scope, as listed by the Planning Portal, is set out below.
| Applies to |
|---|
| New residential and non-residential buildings |
| Buildings undergoing a material change of use to dwellings |
| Residential and non-residential buildings undergoing major renovation |
| Mixed-use buildings that are either new, or undergoing major renovation |
The document is for use in England1. A separate frequently asked questions page on Approved Document S is published by the government, and the Planning Portal also points to a consolidated version of the individual Approved Documents, presented as a single searchable PDF1. The detailed technical requirements themselves, including the number of charge points required and any exemptions, are not set out in the pages reviewed here; those sit in the approved document and its associated guidance.
Why it matters for households
Part S is a building regulations requirement rather than a consumer scheme, so it does not change anything for an existing home by itself. Its practical effect is on the housing stock that comes onto the market from 15 June 2022 onwards: a new home, a building converted to a dwelling, or a home created through major renovation in England falls within the categories the Planning Portal lists1. For a household buying or moving into such a property, charge point provision is part of what the building is expected to include, rather than something added later at the occupant's own cost and arrangement.
That connects to how a home's energy use is managed. Charging at home draws on the household's own electricity supply, and the rules on how charge points operate, including the smart charge point requirements, sit alongside the building standards rather than within them. Households weighing up EV charging at home against public charging will also find the VAT treatment differs between the two, which is covered in the site's guide to why public EV charging VAT is higher than home charging. For anyone dealing with an installation on an existing property, the question of whether building regulations approval is needed for an EV charger is a separate matter from Part S.
What happens next
The document is in effect from 15 June 20221. No further commencement dates or transitional arrangements are given in the pages reviewed.