Every home without a driveway affected by new rule announcement

Electric car owners will find it "easier and cheaper" to charge their vehicles at home under new proposals announced on Wednesday. The Government claims the measures are intended to create a fairer system for renters and those without private driveways.

Ministers said the reforms would simplify the process for renters and leaseholders to install electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints by requiring them in new covered car parks and examining whether to scrap planning permission currently required for residents without driveways to fit discreet cross-pavement charging gullies.

The changes would grant more households access to domestic electricity tariffs, allowing families to operate their EVs for as little as 2p per mile – equivalent to travelling from London to Birmingham for £2.50, according to officials. The Government confirmed it would explore streamlining regulations for EV drivers without driveways to facilitate the installation of cross-pavement charging systems, accelerating applications and potentially saving motorists up to £250 in application costs.

Officials added they would collaborate with Ofgem "to ensure public costs are fair and strengthen protections against landowners overcharging tenants for home charging above the market rate". Additionally, they stated they were working alongside energy regulator Ofgem to guarantee operators deliver high-quality connections and swift, seamless connections for public charging infrastructure, ensuring the network remains robust and supports continued expansion.

A consultation on the proposals will be launched shortly, allowing industry stakeholders to provide input on how the reforms can most effectively be delivered, the Government confirmed.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "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. It's good news for drivers and a big boost for the growing British EV industry – cutting costs and supporting jobs to deliver our Plan for Change."

The pledge follows the introduction of the £650 million Electric Car Grant (ECG) earlier this year, offering discounts of up to £3,750 across 39 car models. The Government stated the grant has driven increased demand for EVs and has already helped more than 25,000 motorists make the transition.

The announcement comes after a £25 million initiative unveiled in July to help local authorities provide discreet cross-pavement channel charging solutions for residents, enabling more people without driveways to charge conveniently and affordably at home. The Government is also committing £381 million to deploy more than 100,000 local public chargers throughout England.