Which? published a response on 29 May 2025 to the news that planning rules are being eased for electric vehicle chargers. The consumer body said the change was a step in the right direction and used the statement to press the government on public charging coverage and the reliability of existing chargepoints1.
Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said the removal of obstacles to installation at homes and businesses was welcome, but set out two areas where the organisation wants further action: chargepoints in car parks, service stations and parts of the country where there are currently not enough chargers, and maintenance standards among chargepoint operators1.
"Any measures which remove the hassle and red tape preventing homeowners and companies from installing new electric vehicle chargers are an important step in the right direction."
"However, to give drivers the confidence they need to make the switch to electric vehicles, the government should step up their efforts to get chargepoints installed in car parks, service stations, and parts of the country where there currently aren't enough chargers."
"The government must also ensure chargepoint operators maintain their chargers to a high standard so drivers can rely on an easy-to-use and fully functioning public charging network across the country."
The statement does not set out which planning rules are being eased, which parts of the UK they cover, or the date any change takes effect. Those details have not been reported in the statement1.
Why it matters for households
Planning rules determine whether a home charge point needs a separate application or can go ahead without one, and the requirements differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The planning permission rules for a home EV charge point set out how those routes work in each nation. Where a charger can be installed without an application, the practical effect for a household is less paperwork and a shorter wait before the equipment is in place.
Which? frames the change as relevant to both homeowners and companies, which places home installation alongside workplace and fleet charging in the same set of rules1. For a household weighing up a charge point, the cost of charging away from home is a separate question from the cost of installing one, and the difference in VAT between public and home charging remains part of that calculation.
The second half of the statement concerns public infrastructure rather than driveways. A household without off-street parking depends on the public charging network for everyday charging, so coverage in car parks and service stations, and whether chargers are working when a driver arrives, bear directly on whether a car can be run without a home charge point. Which? describes maintenance by chargepoint operators as a condition for driver confidence in switching to electric vehicles1.
What happens next
Which? has called on the government to act on public charging coverage and on maintenance standards. No timetable, target or commitment from the government is given in the statement, and no response from ministers is reported1.