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Home charging just got easier for people without driveways

Written by Hypervolt Press Room | Oct 31, 2025 4:20:57 PM

 

The right to charge an electric vehicle at home should not depend on your driveway. Soon, it will not.

A government proposal will remove the need for planning permission for home chargers at properties without private parking.

This reform makes home charging a real possibility for millions of UK drivers who park on the street. It is a simple change with a profound impact.

The Problem with Pavements

Until now, home charging has been a privilege reserved for those with driveways.

For the 40% of UK households that rely on street parking, the process has been slow and expensive.

Only 40 councils in the UK have approved pavement charging solutions. On top of this, drivers have faced planning applications costing up to £700, with approval taking months.

This administrative hurdle has excluded nearly half the population from the convenience and cost benefits of charging an EV at home. The future of transport was stuck in the past.

A Simpler Path Forward

The new plan adds EV chargers to existing permitted development rights. These are the same rules that allow homeowners to build a small extension or install a garden shed without a full planning application.

This change delivers three key benefits:

  • No more delays. The long and expensive planning process is eliminated.
  • Faster installation. “Pavement gullies,” the narrow channels that allow charging cables to cross public footpaths safely, will get quicker approval.
  • Reduced bureaucracy. Councils will be freed from complex red tape, streamlining the system for everyone.

To support this shift, the government is also launching a £25 million fund. This will help local authorities subsidise the cost of installing pavement gullies for residents, removing another financial barrier.

Why This Reform Matters

This decision levels the playing field for EV adoption. For years, drivers in terraced homes and city apartments have had to depend on public charging networks. Now, they can access the same benefits as everyone else.

By making kerbside charging straightforward, the UK can unlock EV demand in urban areas. These are the places where uptake has been slow, despite clear interest. It allows more people to participate in the transition to clean energy.

The Hypervolt View

Our mission is to make smart, clean charging available to every EV driver. This reform brings that vision into focus. It does not matter if you live in a detached house, a terraced street, or a block of flats. Home charging should be for everyone.

Hypervolt chargers are designed to work seamlessly with all the leading smart energy tariffs (plus, solar panels, and home battery systems). This integration helps households cut charging costs by hundreds of pounds each year.

With these new rules, residents without driveways can soon enjoy those same advantages. You can charge your vehicle overnight on low off-peak rates, power your car with renewable energy, and help create a more balanced grid. All from your own home.

What to Expect Next

The proposal will go through a final consultation before becoming law. Once passed, local councils will have the authority to approve kerbside installations quickly and efficiently.

This unlocks a new era of accessible charging across the country. We are already working with our network of installers and local authorities to prepare. More details will follow!

If you're in an area that already enables pavement charging, you can buy a charger directly from us and then work with a local installer on a cross-pavement solution.