The Government has revoked the requirement for motorists to submit planning applications before installing EV charge points.
The decision, announced by Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood, is a further incentive for UK drivers to switch to electric as the process for installing the necessary infrastructure, such as home charging, is streamlined.
Along with home chargers, the changes also apply to workplace and public charge points, meaning that businesses across the UK will be able to install new sockets faster, ultimately encouraging a larger network nationally.
The relaxation of the rules is part of the Government’s “Plan for Change” scheme, which is set to invest £2.3 billion to help UK drivers switch to EVs.
In April, Department for Transport figures showed that an additional 3,000 public chargers were installed over the month, equal to one every 29 minutes.
The removal of the need for planning permission will potentially streamline the process of introducing new charge points, encouraging both the public and businesses across the UK to make the switch.
As the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles gets closer, it’s important that UK drivers have access to incident management services, like AX, that can cater to EVs. In the event of an accident, AX has a network of expert bodyshops are trained for all powertrains and can provide a like-for-like replacement vehicle when necessary – including EVs.
To encourage further uptake of EVs, EValuate, AX’s latest initiative, also gives ICE drivers in need of a replacement vehicle the opportunity to choose an EV, providing an extended real-world experience to see if ownership is viable for them.
