England removes planning permission for electric vehicle charging gullies
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The UK government removed the requirement for planning permission to install charging gullies for electric vehicle owners who lack off-street parking.
This change took effect on 21 October for drivers in England, except in conservation zones. A gully is a small channel built into a pavement at ground level that allows a charging cable to pass from a home to a vehicle without creating a tripping hazard.
The policy change aims to lower barriers for the 9.3 million families in England who do not have private driveways or garages. Previously, obtaining a license for these installations could take up to 15 months and cost between 300 and 500 pounds. By removing this step, the government intends to make home charging more accessible.
ChargeUK reports that charging at home during off-peak hours costs about 8 pence per kilowatt hour, while standard public charging costs 54 pence per kilowatt hour. While the licensing requirement is gone, some local authorities still resist the installations. More than 20 local councils, including Kent, Leicester, and Worcestershire, have shown resistance due to concerns over safety and maintenance. In Ealing, officials declined a pilot project because they feared the impact on pedestrians with limited mobility or visual impairments.
The British government provided 25 million pounds to local councils to help manage these infrastructure needs.
