Charge points key for EV take-up

To address this issue, the government intends to revise UK building regulations to require specified new and refurbished residential and non-residential properties to have EV charge points.

The new rules will mandate that every new home with associated parking within the site boundary, including those created from a change of use, must have an EV charge point, and residential buildings undergoing major renovation with more than 10 parking spaces post-renovation must have at least one charge point for each dwelling, with associated parking and cable routes in all spaces without charge points.

The rules also state that new non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces must have a charge point and cable routes for one-fifth of the number of spaces, and all non-residential buildings undergoing a major renovation with more than 10 parking spaces post-renovation must have at least one charge point and cable routes for one in five spaces.

These new rules will add to the costs of building projects, but such facilities will increasingly be seen as a real value-add. This policy adds to other initiatives to encourage the uptake of EVs, including the allocation of £500m to support the rollout of rapid charging hubs, and National Highways’ plans to invest £11m in battery energy storage systems at service stations.

Reliable, cost-efficient and accessible EV charging infrastructure is essential if the UK is to meet its COP26 targets. As technologies develop to allow for ultra-fast, sub-10 minute charging, the goal of ensuring that EV ownership is no more challenging than a petrol or diesel car can become a reality. The government will likely introduce further measures and funding to stimulate more investment.

Neil Baylis is a partner and head of mobility and automotive, and Anita Rivera is a partner and head of planning at Mishcon de Reya