Government consulted on further changes to PDRs for EV charging infrastructure

The government consulted in November 2025 on further changes to permitted development rights (PDRs) for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, according to NICEIC, the electrical certification body. The consultation included proposals intended to support cross-pavement charging and larger commercial installations¹.

The consultation followed the removal, on 29 May 2025, of the requirement for homeowners and businesses in England to obtain planning permission for charging point installations. That change applies to home EV chargers, public charging points and business installations, which now fall under PDRs. Exceptions include listed buildings, conservation areas and world heritage sites, and limits apply to the size and height of equipment installed under the rights¹.

NICEIC reports that the government says it is still analysing feedback from the consultation, but that in April 2026 plans were announced to introduce PDRs for cross-pavement EV charging solutions, one of the proposals consulted upon. It states that up to three separate permissions are currently required for cross-pavement chargers: permission from the local authority, planning permission for the chargepoint itself, and street works permissions to install infrastructure¹.

On funding, NICEIC reports that the Electric Car Grant was introduced in July 2025, offering buyers up to £3,750 off the most sustainable electric cars and £1,500 off those with eligible sustainable features. In April 2026, it says, five EV grant schemes were extended until 31 March 2027, including the grants for renters and flat owners, residential landlords and households with on-street parking. Those grants offer eligible applicants up to 75 per cent off the cost of installing a chargepoint, with maximum grant rates rising to £500 per socket¹.

"In November 2025, the government consulted on further changes to PDRs for EV charging infrastructure, including proposals designed to support cross-pavement charging and larger commercial installations."

Why it matters for households

Planning permission is one of the practical barriers to charging a car at home, particularly for households without a driveway. Where a cable has to cross a pavement to reach a vehicle parked on the street, NICEIC reports that up to three separate permissions are currently needed, which affects both the time and the cost of an installation. The consultation and the subsequent announcement of plans for PDRs for cross-pavement charging point to a simpler route, though the government has not set out final rules¹.

Other requirements are unaffected by the planning changes. The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 require new domestic and business charge points to include smart functionality supporting off-peak, lower-cost charging, plus minimum security requirements. Installations must comply with BS 7671, the Wiring Regulations, and Building Regulations in England and Wales require charger installations to be notified to local authority building control¹. For a household, those obligations sit alongside the planning position and shape what a compliant installation involves. The rules on public charging and the VAT treatment of public versus home charging are separate matters again.

What happens next

NICEIC reports that the government is still analysing feedback from the November 2025 consultation¹. It gives no date for a response or for the introduction of the cross-pavement PDRs beyond the April 2026 announcement of plans. The government also plans to end the sale of all new petrol and diesel vehicles across the UK by 2030, with new hybrids permitted until 2035, when all new cars and vans sold must be 100 per cent emission-free¹.

Sources1 cited

1. EV charger regulations in England | NICEIC, niceic.com