From Wednesday, October 21, drivers in England who do not have off-street parking will no longer need planning permission to install a pavement gully outside their home, the Labour Party government has confirmed. But more than 20 local authorities will still not allow the installation of gullies after the law changes, creating a postcode lottery for households without driveways.
By charging in front of their house via an energy supply in their home, rather than using a public charger, drivers can cut the cost by up to 90 per cent. However, the new rule does not apply uniformly across the country.
Councils Refusing the New Rule
The following councils do not allow, or are developing policy on, electric vehicle gullies:
- Argyll and Bute Council
- Hampshire County Council
- Herefordshire Council
- Kent County Council
- Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
- Leicester City Council
- Ealing Council
- Hackney Council
- Hounslow Council
- Lambeth Council
- Merton Council
- Waltham Forest Council
- Medway Council
- Midlothian Council
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
- Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
- Somerset Council
- Staffordshire County Council
- Westminster City Council
- Worcestershire County Council
Homeowner Frustration and Cost Differences
One homeowner expressed frustration: “It’s really frustrating. When we decided to buy an electric car … the reason we wanted to buy one was for the environmental impact. You either have to have enough money to have a house with a driveway, or you have to be able to afford the additional cost of charging at a public charger.”
Carl Cashman of the Local Government Association, which represents councils, says local authorities would like to support on-street charging as much as possible “but have limited resources and significant demands to meet”.
Industry and Political Reaction
Caroline Pidgeon, a Liberal Democrats peer, said: “Simpler rules will make it easier for people to switch to an electric car.”
Ben Whitaker of Kerbo Charge warned: “Some [councils] are using it [the funding] to provide half-price channels to early adopters, others are making it totally free while funds last – but, after that, residents will have to pay full price. For example, Surrey is £499 for the channel and installation, South Gloucestershire is £250. Sadly, there is quite a variety of approaches and prices.”
