Driveway rule change to affect every homeowner and | Tech News

New planning guidelines within the UK are set to affect electric car possession for owners and tenants alike, regardless of whether or not they have a driveway. Last yr, the Government confirmed plans to scrap pink tape for electric car chargers, permitting motorists to set up plugs on their own land with out requiring planning permission. 

Officials claimed the transfer would help owners unlock entry to electric automobiles, permitting residents to save up to £1,100 a yr in contrast to operating a petrol or diesel car. Using at-home electric car plugs is less expensive than utilizing public charging bays, with street customers in a position to prime up their vehicle for as little as 2p per mile. However, officers are set to go a step additional in 2026, additionally scrapping limitations for motorists with out entry to non-public driveways to benefit from the financial savings. Removing planning permission guidelines will permit EV homeowners to set up discreet cross-pavement charging gullies to allow them to prime up on the aspect of a avenue. 

Up till now, these with out off-street parking have had to charge their autos away from home, paying far more than mandatory. Carwow has confused that many householders and tenants have confronted an “uphill battle” pushing for the rule change and stressed the move could dramatically boost interest in EVs. 

Carwowsaid: “But why should this matter to you? Well, for everyday drivers, this could be a game-changer. Renters and flat-dwellers have long faced an uphill battle when it comes to charging at home, often relying on slower or pricier public chargers.

“By removing planning permission barriers and bringing in new measures to protect tenants, owning an electric car could soon become far more accessible and affordable.”

A consultation on the measures ran from late 2025 until January 2026, with a summary of responses and a Government response due to be published shortly.

If the measure is approved, the policy will mean that all electric car owners, regardless of whether they have a driveway, can entry cheaper charges. 

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander mentioned: “Wherever you park your car, we’re making it fairer, easier, and cheaper to make the switch to electric. 

“These reforms will improve infrastructure for the EV revolution, increase chargepoints across the country and open up affordable home charging to thousands more households.”