Home / Technology / UK Accelerates EV Infrastructure with Planning Reforms
UK Accelerates EV Infrastructure with Planning Reforms
28 Aug
Summary
- Planning permission delays for EV chargers will be reduced.
- Government aims to meet 300,000 public EV chargers by 2030.
- Cost of public charging remains a barrier for EV adoption.
The UK government is set to accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure by removing planning permission requirements for essential electrical works. Previously, securing such permission could take up to nine months, causing significant delays. This deregulation aims to reduce costs and speed up the delivery of needed rapid charging hubs.
The move comes as the UK prepares to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030. A report by the National Audit Office in December 2024 indicated that public EV charger deployment is on track to meet the estimated minimum requirement of 300,000 chargers by 2030.
While industry bodies like the RAC and InstaVolt have welcomed the announcement as a way to remove barriers to EV adoption and ease range anxiety, they also highlighted that the high cost of public charging remains a significant hurdle for consumers. Ensuring timely grid connections, particularly in rural areas, is also a crucial element for successful infrastructure expansion.
