Govt Cuts Gully Permits Under Net-Zero Drive to Boost EV Charging

Welcome to Net Zero News, where we bring you the latest developments driving the UK’s transition to a net-zero future. In a move that could reshape the nation’s electric vehicle landscape, the UK Government has unveiled plans to mandate EV chargepoints in covered car parks across non-residential buildings and launched a consultation on removing planning permission requirements for cross-pavement charging gullies.

Net Zero News can reveal that the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) jointly announced the proposals in late October 2025. The policy will apply to newly constructed or substantially refurbished covered car parks attached to offices, retail outlets, hotels, leisure centres and public buildings. At the same time, the government is seeking views on streamlining the installation of cross-pavement charging cables by lifting the need for local planning approval.

In a significant step towards the UK’s net-zero goals, the mandate would require a minimum of one chargepoint per ten parking spaces in covered car parks, with an obligation to install ducting to allow for future expansion. Building regulations will be amended to ensure that all major developers factor EV infrastructure into designs from the outset. The consultation on removing planning permission for charging gullies aims to replicate the success of permitted development rights introduced for wall-mounted home chargers, reducing costs and delays for drivers and operators alike.

This initiative directly supports the UK’s target of phasing out new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. By boosting the number of easily accessible public charging points, the government expects to eliminate barriers to EV adoption, help cut transport sector emissions by an estimated 10 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2035, and accelerate consumers’ switch to cleaner vehicles.

Key stakeholders include the DfT, BEIS, National Highways, and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles, working alongside local authorities and private sector partners such as energy network operators, chargepoint manufacturers and major property developers. The cost of the regulatory measures is minimal for government, but the wider EV infrastructure build-out is supported by a £1 billion Charging Infrastructure Fund, providing grants to local councils and roadside charging operators.

Net Zero News understands this forms part of the government’s broader Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, which outlines a roadmap for public chargepoint roll-out through to 2035. The Isle of Wight pilot scheme, launched earlier this year, demonstrated that pre-installed ducting and pre-positioned cabling in car parks can cut installation costs by up to 30 per cent. The cross-pavement regulation change would build on that success, enabling operators to plug in new gullies without waiting up to eight weeks for planning clearance.

Communities and industries stand to benefit significantly from these changes. Retailers and leisure operators will offer enhanced services to customers and staff, encouraging longer on-site dwell times while vehicles charge. Local economies in urban and suburban areas are expected to see increased footfall as drivers flock to more reliable charging hubs. Challenges remain, however, around pavement safety and street clutter, which the government says will be managed through standardized cable shrouds and designated cable routes.

Net Zero News can confirm that formal consultation on the planning permission removal will run until 12 January 2026. Subject to feedback, legislative amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act will be laid in Parliament in spring 2026. The amended building regulations for covered car parks are expected to come into force by the end of 2026, with full compliance required for all new developments from 2027.

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