New rules could cut EV charging costs for drivers

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes · Last updated: 22 October 2026

England has changed planning rules so households can install a pavement gully — a narrow channel letting an EV cable run from a home supply to a kerbside car — without the previous planning application. The change removes a step that councils and installers say has taken applicants up to 15 months and would save drivers about £300–£500 in fees; the government has also made £25m available to councils for gullies. Examples and council responses here were gathered in interviews and local records, as first reported by The Guardian.

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.

Alison Williams

What the rule change does and who it helps

The rule change removes the need for a planning application to place a pavement gully outside a home in England, allowing a cable to pass from a household electricity supply across the pavement to a car parked on the road. A pavement gully sits flush with the footway and is designed to avoid trip hazards by containing the cable in a steel channel.

The relaxation aims to speed installations and lower upfront costs: campaigners report approval times of up to 15 months under the old regime, and councils or installers say dropping the planning step will save applicants roughly £300–£500 in fees. The change does not apply where properties are in conservation areas, where planning permission will still be required.

How much installations and licences actually cost

Prices vary widely between local authorities and providers. Kerbo Charge tells homeowners the average fee without a grant is about £1,200 including VAT, while some councils are using central funding to subsidise or fully cover channels for early applicants.

Surrey council offers installations at £499, South Gloucestershire council at £250, and Redbridge council will fund up to £1,200 while requiring applicants to pay £815 in fees and a bond plus any additional installation costs. Redbridge also applies an annual licence charge of £185, and Enfield charges £107 a year.

Why some councils are resisting the change

More than 20 local authorities are reported as refusing to permit gullies, citing safety, accessibility and liability concerns. Councils such as Waltham Forest and Hackney in London, and county areas including Kent, Leicester and Worcestershire, say gullies raise issues for pavement users, maintenance responsibilities and electrical safety standards.

Councils explain they must balance on-street charging support against limited resources and other demands; the Local Government Association’s Carl Cashman says authorities want to help but face constraints. Some councils argue gullies could affect the experience of people who walk or wheel, including those with visual impairments, and have therefore declined trials or wide roll-outs.

What this means for drivers’ bills and everyday charging

For drivers without a driveway, running a gully that draws power from the household electricity supply can substantially reduce charging costs because domestic tariffs are much lower than public-charger rates. ChargeUK's data records off-peak home charging at 8p per kilowatt-hour, compared with an average of 54p per kWh at standard public chargers; drivers interviewed reported much smaller per-charge bills at home — one owner said a full charge of a Vauxhall Vivaro Life costs £6 and is done twice a week.

Drivers should check their council’s policy and any local grants before arranging installation: Kerbo Charge operates a postcode checker to show eligibility, and councils differ on whether central funding makes channels free, subsidised or paid-for. Also note that VAT on domestic electricity has been cut from 5% to 0% this month while public charging remains at 20%, increasing the relative advantage of at-home charging through a gully.

How the change could play out

The bottom line

The planning change lowers a clear administrative barrier to at-home kerbside charging and, combined with a £25m fund and the domestic VAT cut, materially strengthens the economics of household-supplied charging. However, the benefits depend on local delivery: wide price variation, ongoing licence fees and the fact that more than 20 councils are reported to be refusing gullies mean the change will create winners and losers. Drivers without driveways should check their council’s stance and grant offers before committing to installation, because eligibility and net cost vary sharply by postcode.

What to watch

• Watch whether your local council publishes specific guidance or an application window for pavement gullies; no date has been set.
• Watch for council decisions from holdout authorities such as Waltham Forest, Hackney or county councils named among the 20+ refusing gullies; no date has been set.

This article is information, not financial advice. Anyone acting on it should do their own checks.