Latest news with #LilianGreenwood
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
No more planning applications needed for EV charging point installations
The Government has cut planning red tape to make it easier for EV drivers and businesses to install electric car chargepoints. Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, announced drivers and businesses will no longer need to submit a planning application to install public or private EV sockets. EV owners will be able to unlock savings of up to £1,100 a year compared to running a petrol or diesel car thanks to the streamlined new process, the Government says. By cutting down on paperwork, more EV owners with a driveway will find it easier to install a home charger and power up their EVs at home. Crucially, the planning changes also apply to workplace and public chargepoints meaning businesses will be able to install new sockets faster and for less money, increasing the number of public chargepoints. Lilian Greenwood said: 'We're cutting down on paperwork to power up the EV revolution, so that drivers, businesses and those looking to make the switch will have more chargepoints to power from, and less red tape to deal with.' Department for Transport (DfT) statistics show a record of nearly 3,000 public charging devices were added in April – with one popping up every 29 minutes. Overall there are nearly 80,000 public chargepoints across the UK, with the Government helping to install 18,600 sockets in workplace carparks last year. Today's relaxation of planning process comes on top of the discounts the Government offers to drivers wanting to install chargepoints outside their house; currently people renting or owning a flat, or those with on-street parking can receive up to £350 off the cost of installing a home charger. The red tape relaxation is part of Labour's 'Plan for Change' which will see £2.3billion invested to help the switch to EVs, secure global trade deals to back British carmakers, and create jobs and drive investment. Reacting to the news, industry leaders called it a 'positive' step but pushed for more to be done to help those without driveways. Vicky Edmonds, chief executive of EVA England, embraced the 'welcome step forward' saying: 'Making it easier to install both public and private charging infrastructure is essential to helping more drivers switch to electric.' However she warned 'further action is needed' as 'drivers without driveways still face barriers to affordable, convenient charging', adding: 'We urge the Government to increase its support of the rollout of cross-pavement charging and extend legal rights to tenants and leaseholders, so all drivers can access and benefit from cheaper and more convenient charging.' Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, believes 'removing the planning rules' will help 'accelerate installations' but is concerned about grid connection. He commented: 'The crucial element is ensuring grid connection in a timely manner. This is especially important in rural locations and areas where there is no dedicated off-street parking.' Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at consumer group Which? said any measures which remove the hassle and red tape preventing homeowners and companies from installing new electric vehicle chargers is 'an important step in the right direction'. How much does charging your EV at home save you? Zapmap's price index shows that those using public charging points are paying a hefty premium to charge compared to drivers with off-street parking and home chargers. Motorists using public charge points pay up to 10 times more than home off-peak charging rates. Ultra-rapid chargers cost around £0.80 per kWh compared to just £0.08 per kWh for home off-peak charging. At the same time it was revealed that 80 per cent of EV drivers now charge at home, up from 76 per cent last year, while public charging hub usage has decreased to 29 per cent, down eight per cent from 2024.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
No more planning applications needed for EV charging point installaions
The Government has cut planning red tape to make it easier for EV drivers and businesses to install electric car chargepoints. Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, announced drivers and businesses will no longer need to submit a planning application to install public or private EV sockets. EV owners will be able to unlock savings of up to £1,100 a year compared to running a petrol or diesel car thanks to the streamlined new process, the Government says. By cutting down on paperwork, more EV owners with a driveway will find it easier to install a home charger and power up their EVs at home. Crucially, the planning changes also apply to workplace and public chargepoints meaning businesses will be able to install new sockets faster and for less money, increasing the number of public chargepoints. Lilian Greenwood said: 'We're cutting down on paperwork to power up the EV revolution, so that drivers, businesses and those looking to make the switch will have more chargepoints to power from, and less red tape to deal with.' Department for Transport (DfT) statistics show a record of nearly 3,000 public charging devices were added in April – with one popping up every 29 minutes. Overall there are nearly 80,000 public chargepoints across the UK, with the Government helping to install 18,600 sockets in workplace carparks last year. Today's relaxation of planning process comes on top of the discounts the Government offers to drivers wanting to install chargepoints outside their house; currently people renting or owning a flat, or those with on-street parking can receive up to £350 off the cost of installing a home charger. The red tape relaxation is part of Labour's 'Plan for Change' which will see £2.3billion invested to help the switch to EVs, secure global trade deals to back British carmakers, and create jobs and drive investment. Reacting to the news, industry leaders called it a 'positive' step but pushed for more to be done to help those without driveways. Vicky Edmonds, chief executive of EVA England, embraced the 'welcome step forward' saying: 'Making it easier to install both public and private charging infrastructure is essential to helping more drivers switch to electric.' However she warned 'further action is needed' as 'drivers without driveways still face barriers to affordable, convenient charging', adding: 'We urge the Government to increase its support of the rollout of cross-pavement charging and extend legal rights to tenants and leaseholders, so all drivers can access and benefit from cheaper and more convenient charging.' Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, believes 'removing the planning rules' will help 'accelerate installations' but is concerned about grid connection. He commented: 'The crucial element is ensuring grid connection in a timely manner. This is especially important in rural locations and areas where there is no dedicated off-street parking.' Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at consumer group Which? said any measures which remove the hassle and red tape preventing homeowners and companies from installing new electric vehicle chargers is 'an important step in the right direction'. How much does charging your EV at home save you? Zapmap's price index shows that those using public charging points are paying a hefty premium to charge compared to drivers with off-street parking and home chargers. Motorists using public charge points pay up to 10 times more than home off-peak charging rates. Ultra-rapid chargers cost around £0.80 per kWh compared to just £0.08 per kWh for home off-peak charging. At the same time it was revealed that 80 per cent of EV drivers now charge at home, up from 76 per cent last year, while public charging hub usage has decreased to 29 per cent, down eight per cent from 2024.
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Wales Online
New rules affecting roads and drivers across Wales planned
New rules affecting roads and drivers across Wales planned The Welsh Government has proposed changes to help the transition to a new future A new rule for driveways in England came into force this Thursday (May 29) and something similar looks on the way for Wales (Image: InYourArea ) A new law coming into force in England could soon be repeated in Wales. From this week, people in England will no longer need to submit planning applications in order to install electric vehicle chargers, a law which will effect every household in England. The Labour government hopes that this new law will streamline the process of installing EV chargers and therefore reduce months of delays and possibly saving drivers £1,100 a year. They say it will give drivers more chargepoints, with less red tape. In April this year, the Welsh Government published a consultation which proposes to change the development rules around EV charging infrastructure. The proposals would bring Wales further in line with provisions in Scotland and England by removing the 2m from a highway restriction and, in certain instances, increasing the height limit of chargers to 2.7m. The Welsh Government said: "The number of EV charging points across Wales needs to increase to support the anticipated growth in electric vehicle usage, and to align with Net Zero Wales targets and UK Government's proposed ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030/35. "Reliable and comprehensive charging infrastructure is needed to support this transition. "The changes will further facilitate the roll-out of electric vehicle charge points in line with predicted growth in use of electric vehicles and to ensure sufficient charging infrastructure is available to support zero emission vehicle targets." Other changes to permitted development rights in Wales laid out in the consultation include increased provision for air source heat pumps and increased rights for recreation campsites. The Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, called England's move a boost for the "EV revolution". Love dreamy Welsh homes? Sign up to our newsletter here . She added: "We continue to make the switch to EVs easier, cheaper and better by investing over £2.3billion to support drivers and back British carmakers through international trade deals - creating jobs, boosting investment and securing our future as part of our Plan for Change." Osprey Charging Network's operations director, Lewis Gardiner, said changes in England would make a "real difference". He continued: "Removing the need for planning permission for essential electrical infrastructure like substations across the majority of sites will save months of delays, reduce costs and accelerate the delivery of the rapid charging hubs drivers need." Article continues below Research by Autotrader shows that the number of EV chargers in the UK rose from by 30,000 at the end of 2021, to 77,000 as of March 2025. The Welsh Government consultation runs until July 1, 2025. It can be viewed here.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Major change kicks in for EVERY driveway in England ‘to save months of delays and cut costs'
It hopes to accelerate the rollout of EVs CHARGING AHEAD Major change kicks in for EVERY driveway in England 'to save months of delays and cut costs' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR rule change has come for drivers around the UK in a positive move for home and vehicle owners. The change involves the installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers for both public and private use. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The new driveway law is for every household in the UK Credit: Alamy 2 It is expected to save thousands of pounds a year and wait times Credit: Alamy There is a current target to install 300,000 chargers across the UK by 2030, a goal set out by the previous Conservative government. From this week, those wanting to install an EV charger will no longer require planning permission from a local authority. The new move by Labour is expected to save driver £1,100 a year, as well as months of delays. Liberty to install EV chargers was already the case for most on a private property with off-street parking. But for larger public developments, a green light from local authorities was required. CEO of charger provider Osprey, Ian Johnston, told Autocar last year: "The problem is you've got to go through a process which is under-resourced and takes six to nine months to get planning permission.' The process has been deemed a key bottleneck in the roll-out of the nation's EV and charging network. The Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: "We're cutting down on paperwork to power up the EV revolution so that drivers, businesses and those looking to make the switch will have more charge points to power from and less red tape to deal with." These rule changes hope to help the "EV revolution" by what Ms Greenwood considers making it "easier than ever to install EV chargers" for EV drivers across the UK. The Labour MP continued: "We continue to make the switch to EVs easier, cheaper and better by investing over £2.3billion to support drivers and back British carmakers through international trade deals - creating jobs, boosting investment and securing our future as part of our Plan for Change." Audi launches NEW superfast charging hybrid with eye-watering price Operations Director at Osprey Charging Network, Lewis Gardiner welcomed the government's "practical change" in policy which he believes will make a "huge difference" for the industry. He added: "Removing the need for planning permission for essential electrical infrastructure like substations across the majority of sites will save months of delays, reduce costs and accelerate the delivery of the rapid charging hubs drivers need." Jack Counsens, head of roads policy at The AA, praised the positive step but said the government should be doing all it can: "The crucial element is ensuring grid connection in a timely manner. "This is especially important in rural locations and areas where there is no dedicated off-street parking." A charger mapping by firm Zap-Map has shown there were more than 79,000 publicly accessible charge points across the UK at the end of last month. This is an increase of 6,000 since the end of 2024, but just a quarter of the final goal for the next five years.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Major change kicks in for EVERY driveway in England ‘to save months of delays and cut costs'
A MAJOR rule change has come for drivers around the UK in a positive move for home and vehicle owners. The change involves the installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers for both public and private use. 2 The new driveway law is for every household in the UK Credit: Alamy 2 It is expected to save thousands of pounds a year and wait times Credit: Alamy There is a current target to install 300,000 chargers across the UK by 2030, a goal set out by the previous Conservative government. From this week, those wanting to install an The new move by Labour is expected to save driver £1,100 a year, as well as months of delays. Liberty to install EV chargers was already the case for most on a private property with off-street parking. Read More Motors News But for CEO of charger provider Osprey, Ian Johnston, told The process has been deemed a key bottleneck in the roll-out of the nation's EV and The Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: "We're cutting down on paperwork to power up the EV revolution so that drivers, businesses and those looking to make the switch will have more charge points to power from and less red tape to deal with." Most read in Motors These rule changes hope to help the "EV revolution" by what Ms Greenwood considers making it "easier than ever to install EV chargers" for EV drivers across the UK. The Labour MP continued: "We continue to make the switch to EVs easier, cheaper and better by investing over £2.3billion to support drivers and back British carmakers through international trade deals - creating jobs, boosting investment and securing our future as part of our Plan for Change." Audi launches NEW superfast charging hybrid with eye-watering price Operations Director at Osprey Charging Network, Lewis Gardiner welcomed the government's "practical change" in policy which he believes will make a "huge difference" for the industry. He added: "Removing the need for planning permission for essential electrical infrastructure like substations across the majority of sites will save months of delays, reduce costs and accelerate the delivery of the rapid charging hubs drivers need." Jack Counsens, head of roads policy at The AA, praised the positive step but said the government should be doing all it can: "The crucial element is ensuring grid connection in a timely manner. "This is especially important in rural locations and areas where there is no dedicated off-street parking." A charger mapping by firm Zap-Map has shown there were more than 79,000 publicly accessible charge points across the UK at the end of last month. This is an increase of 6,000 since the end of 2024, but just a quarter of the final goal for the next five years.
