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Government The move is to accelerate the rollout of public electric vehicle charging across England by removing one of the biggest administrative hurdles facing chargepoint operators.
The new Planning and Infrastructure Act includes a clause which means chargepoint operators will no longer be required to obtain a Section 50 license before operating on a public highway. Instead, they will be able to apply for road work permits, putting them on the same level as utilities and other infrastructure providers when installing equipment on public highways.
Currently, any company installing a public chargepoint on a highway must apply for a Section 50 license under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. Designed to protect road users and manage disruption, the system has become a significant barrier to EV infrastructure, with application timelines and costs varying widely between local authorities. In some cases, this has added months to projects before ground can even be broken, a point often raised by the charging industry.
The new approach aims to streamline that process. Chargepoint operators in England will be able to apply for road works permits through Street Manager, the digital platform already used by all highway authorities and utility companies to co-ordinate works on the road network. Ministers say this will make applications faster to process and cheaper to obtain, reduce complexity and reduce the delays that have so far slowed down charger installation.
This change is expected to have a direct impact on the rollout speed for on-street charging, especially in residential areas where most drivers do not have access to off-street parking.
Reducing setup costs is also an important part of the policy. By moving away from Section 50 licenses, which can be costly and unpredictable, the Government believes operators will be able to bring charger online at lower costs, improving the business case for investment and helping to expand coverage beyond the most commercially attractive locations.
The legislative change sits alongside a broader package of measures aimed at accelerating EV charging deployment and cutting costs for drivers. The government has also brought forward proposals to remove the need for planning permission for most home charger installations, a move that could speed up applications and save drivers up to £250 per installation.
This is complemented by a £25 million scheme designed to help residents without driveways install home charging solutions, making it easier to use cross-pavement charging solutions. According to the government, these measures could enable some drivers to charge their cars as little as 2p per mile based on energy charges.
Funding remains central to the strategy. An extra £600m has been announced this year to accelerate the national chargepoint rollout, building on a wider commitment to deliver over 100,000 new public chargers across the UK – the number currently stands at 87,168, up 21% from the end of 2024.
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The government has also launched a review of the cost of public electric vehicle charging, which will examine the impact of energy prices, wider cost contributors and options to reduce prices for consumers. With public charging costs often cited as a barrier to EV adoption, the review aims to address concerns about fairness and affordability as the market matures. It remains to be seen whether this addresses the disparity between charging 20 per cent VAT rates in public and five per cent VAT at home.
Transportation Secretary Heidi Alexander said the changes are designed to support businesses while accelerating the transition to electric vehicles.
“Businesses are vital in providing the charging network needed for the EV transition, giving drivers the confidence to switch and creating jobs and growth across the UK,” Alexander said.
“But supporting the EV revolution should not waste companies’ time or balance sheets. That’s why our landmark Planning and Infrastructure Act will speed up processes and reduce planning delays, making it easier and cheaper than ever for companies to install public EV chargers.
“In addition to supporting the rollout of 100,000 new public chargepoints to power the EV revolution, we are supporting this action with the announcement of £600 million for EV charging infrastructure this year alone.”
Commenting on the new Act, char.gy CEO John Lewis said: “This is a really positive step forward that tackles one of the biggest practical barriers to getting public charging off the ground. Moving away from Section 50 licenses to a streamlined street works permit system will cut unnecessary red ribbonReduce costs and, importantly, accelerate installation on the ground. For operators like char.gy, this means getting chargers to the streets faster, with less disruption for councils and residents.”