Major rule change for 8 million drivers without a driveway – but 'postcode lottery' remains, tell me about this news in (https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/major-rule-change-8-million-34661735)

The news reports on a UK government rule change aimed at making electric vehicle (EV) charging more accessible to approximately eight million households living in terraced homes or flats without private driveways.

Key Points of the Rule Change

• Relaxation of Planning Permission: The government has introduced new permitted development rights that remove the requirement for a separate planning application to install approved cross-pavement EV charging solutions and associated domestic charge points.

• Access to Cheaper Charging: Motorists without driveways previously had to rely heavily on expensive commercial public charging networks. This rule change allows them to use cross-pavement channels (shallow, covered gullies cut into footpaths) to run cables safely under pavements to cars parked on the street. This grants access to cheaper domestic overnight energy tariffs, which can cost as low as 2p per mile.

• Why a “Postcode Lottery” Remains:

  • Although the central planning red tape has been removed, final approval and safety oversight have shifted to local highway authorities.

  • There is currently no unified national standard for cable channel installations, meaning approval processes, costs, and timelines will vary widely by local council.

  • Many local councils still do not have active cross-pavement charging policies in place or are only running pilot trials, meaning residents in certain areas can take advantage of the system immediately while others face long waits or outright bans under existing local street regulations.

• Funding and Rollout: The initiative links with wider government funding programs, including the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, which is backing on-street trials and public charger installations in areas like Liverpool City Region, North Northamptonshire, and the North East of England.