Andy Burnham Eases Parking Rules for EV Charging
Andy Burnham is removing formal planning permission requirements for cross-parking electric vehicle charging installations to help residents without off-street parking.
Mayor Andy Burnham is introducing changes to driveway and parking rules starting October 21 to simplify the installation of electric vehicle charging solutions. The initiative targets the driveway divide affecting the 40 percent of households that lack off-street parking.
Under the new rules, residents will no longer need formal planning permission to install cross-parking charging solutions, such as running cables under the street. However, homeowners must still obtain approval from the Local Highway Authority, and the changes do not apply to residents living in conservation areas.
These local adjustments follow a broader move by the Government of the United Kingdom to reduce VAT on domestic electricity from 5 percent to 0 percent on October 1. This tax cut lowered home charging costs to approximately 7p per kWh, though public charging remains subject to 20 percent VAT, costing roughly 50p per kWh. Critics of the new parking rules warn that relying on local council decisions for approvals could create a postcode lottery for residents.
