Electric car drivers who live in one of the UK’s many conservation areas could face extra costs and delays when installing home charging equipment, despite recent changes to planning rules aiming to speed up the process.
Historic England told Autocar that nearly two million households are located within conservation areas across England, which are not included in the new permitted development rights that make it easier for motorists without driveways to install cross-pavement charging infrastructure.
This means people living within those boundaries without off-street parking may still need planning permission for both the charger and the pavement channel.
Historic England doesn't have data for how many conservation area homes lack driveways, but the national average is around 40%.
The government’s plan to streamline the charger installation planning process – announced last month – has raised questions about how the new rules will work in conservation areas in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire, where councils are already running cross-pavement charging schemes.
Oxfordshire County Council, which has 260 conservation areas, according to Historic England, told Autocar that it was “temporarily pausing new applications from residents” in these protected locations. It's also “holding applications that are conditionally approved, rather than risk residents incurring unnecessary planning costs”.
It added that it's working with local planning authorities to clarify the requirements for homes in protected locations. “When these matters are resolved, applications will reopen,” a spokesperson said.
Shayne Rees of Gul-e, which installs cross-pavement charging channels for the council, said a few dozen applications had been affected by the decision.
According to Rees, the council is trying to get on “rock-solid ground” before advising residents about the new rules. “I think we're talking days and weeks,” he said, rather than months.
Meanwhile, Hertfordshire County Council, which is running a cross-pavement charging trial with St Albans City and District Council, is taking a different approach.
It said it will “continue to consider applications for cross-pavement charging channels on a case-by-case basis”, including those in conservation areas.
It will add an additional step to its initial assessment to check whether an applicant lives in one of St Albans’ 19 conservation areas. If so, they will be advised to obtain the necessary planning approvals and directed to the relevant local planning authority.
