Could new homes be required to have charging points?
Chris Grayling will unveil proposals that could lead to the installation of hundreds of thousands more charging points for electric vehicles to encourage more people to adopt ultra low-emission vehicles.
The initiatives included in the Government’s Road to Zero Strategy include more money to fund charging infrastructure and the need to assess whether new homes and offices should be required to install charge points as standard.
The proposals, due to be unveiled by Mr Grayling, aim to make it easier to recharge an electric car rather than refuel petrol or diesel vehicles.
They include:
- The need to assess if new homes and offices should be required to install charging points as standard
- New street lighting columns with on-street parking to have charging points in appropriate locations
- More money being allocated to fund charging infrastructure.
The Government is also expected to outline more details of its ban on sales of new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040.
Alternatively-fuelled vehicles such as hybrids and pure electrics held just 5.5% of the UK’s new car market in the first six months of the year, compared with 4.2% during the same period in 2017.
Launching the Government’s plans to boost take-up of the technology, Mr Grayling will say: “The Road to Zero Strategy, combined with the measures we’ve already introduced, will mean Britain now has one of the most comprehensive support packages for zero-emission vehicles in the world.
“We want the UK to become the best country in the world in which to develop and manufacture zero-emission vehicles. The prize is not just a cleaner and healthier environment but a UK economy fit for the future and the chance to win a substantial slice of a market estimated to be worth up to £7.6 trillion by 2050.”
Lack of charging points puts off new buyers
A study for motoring research charity the RAC Foundation found that growth in electric car use could be stalled by limitations in the public charging network. The mass market appeal of ultra-green vehicles may be restricted without widespread, reliable and easy-to-use charging points, the report warned.
Separate AA research shows that eight out of 10 drivers see the lack of charging points as a stumbling block for them to buy an electric vehicle. The motoring firm’s president Edmund King said: “A big push on a range of slow, fast and rapid charging points should help overcome this hurdle.
“The challenge is then for manufacturers to make a car worth buying. These Road to Vision Zero proposals are a step in the right direction but there is still much to do to wean drivers off petrol and diesel cars.”
Permitted Development
The installation of charging up-stands and charging points is permitted development in the GPDO. This is covered in the Schedule 2 Part 2 – Minor Operations section. No planning applications are required unless the property is a listed building or a scheduled monument or a flat.
After many requests, we now offer a site appraisal service for just £149. This appraisal will be from a developers view point letting you know the best options that you might have with your site or building of interest. No point in spending a large amount on professional fees if the deal has large potential issues from a planning aspect. Or maybe we can find new angles that will increase your GDV and potential profit/income! Click here to start the process.