Pavement ‘rule’ update issued after driveway | Tech News

A authorities minister has issued an update on plans to change pavement rules to make it easier for people without driveways to charge electric vehicles. Changes have already been made, with April 1, 2026, seeing a grant increase.

Now, it has been confirmed that planning permission rules are being examined in a bid to remove further barriers to those wanting to switch to an EV but are put off by the lack of a driveway to charge them easily.

A grant to cover the installation of a home electric car charger was elevated on April 1 to £500, up from £350. Speaking earlier this 12 months, Keir Mather, the minister for decarbonisation, mentioned that might cowl round half the associated fee of putting in one.

Several questions on the subject have been requested in Parliament this month.

Joe Robertston, Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight, requested: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 April 2026 to Question 124238 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, how many applicants have successfully received funding under the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking; and what the total value is of funding awarded under that scheme.”

Mr Mather responded earlier this week: “As of January 1, 2026, the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking grant has funded 39 sockets with a grant value of £13,531.

“The grant funds the set up of charge factors at residential properties with on-street parking if they’re additionally putting in a cross-pavement answer. This grant is along with the £25 million Electric Vehicle Pavement Channels Grant for native authorities.”

“The Government has consulted on measures to scale back planning permission necessities for cross-pavement options, additional supporting households with on-street parking, and will probably be responding sooner or later.”

Further questions were also responded to earlier this month.

Shivani Raja, Conservative MP for Leicester East, asked: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to improve the (a) accessibility and (b) affordability of at-home EV charging.”

Mr Mather responded: “The Government continues to offer grant funding for these residing in flats and rented lodging, with up to £500 per charge level socket. The Government can also be persevering with to assist drivers to entry cheaper, versatile charging tariffs, each at home and in public. The Government set out a vary of steps to assist this as half of its Clean Flexibility Roadmap 2025.”

Jerome Mayhew, Conservative MP for Broadland and Fakenham, asked: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to develop permitted development rights to incorporate pavement gullies for at-home EV charging.”

Mr Mather responded: “The Department ran a session between November 2025 and January 2026, searching for views on modifications to permitted development rights for cross-pavement charging options. The Department will publish its response shortly.”