On-street EV charging in UK is postcode lottery as drivers face council objections
Millions of UK homes lack off-street parking, but council objections are slowing cheap on-street EV charging gullies despite government efforts to ease rules.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
The Guardian reports that on-street EV charging via pavement gullies is turning into a local postcode lottery. More than 20 councils are holding out over safety, legal, parking and accessibility concerns, limiting access to cheaper home electricity for drivers without driveways.
Some electric car owners can charge at home only if they have a driveway. This story is about a small channel in the pavement that lets a cable reach a car parked on the street.
The problem is that different councils are saying yes or no for different reasons. Some worry about people tripping, some worry about safety, and some say the streets are too crowded already. It is like a school where every classroom has different rules for the same game.
That matters because charging at home is usually cheaper than using public chargers. If a family cannot park outside their house, it may be harder for them to save money on driving an electric car.
Analysis
What is happening
The article says the government wants to make it easier to install cross-pavement charging gullies so drivers without driveways can plug in their cars from home. But more than 20 local authorities are still not allowing them, so access depends heavily on where someone lives.
Why councils are resisting
Councils cited different objections: safety, liability, maintenance, parking enforcement, accessibility, and the effect on pavements. Leicester said terrace-house residents often cannot park directly outside their homes. Kent raised the risk of electric shock if cables are damaged. Worcestershire said it does not permit breaking or damaging the highway for a charger connection, though it would allow cable protectors. Ealing said it worries about elderly residents, disabled people, wheelchair users and visually impaired pedestrians. Westminster said gullies do not suit dense urban streets, while Hackney wants to reduce street clutter and prioritize walking and wheeling over private cars.
The economics angle
The piece highlights the cost gap between domestic charging and public charging. Electricity used at home is taxed at 5% VAT, compared with 20% at public chargers, so being able to charge from home can materially lower running costs. But Field Dynamics says 9.3 million households lack off-street parking, which means many cannot easily reach that cheaper option.
Policy friction
The government has removed planning permission for these installations, which should reduce red tape, but installers still need street works licences from councils. Industry figures quoted in the article say that means local processes still vary widely, and that the new rules may not change much for residents in areas that remain unwilling to approve the work.
Key points
- More than 20 councils are reportedly refusing or holding back on cross-pavement EV charging gullies.
- The government has pledged to reduce red tape, but councils still control street works licences.
- Home charging is cheaper for many drivers because domestic electricity carries 5% VAT, not 20%.
- Field Dynamics says 9.3 million UK households do not have off-street parking.
- Councils cited safety, accessibility, liability and pavement-clutter concerns.
