Planning reform to ‘accelerate rollout’ of electric vehicle charge points

The Government has published plans to replace street works licences with permits to accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charge points and make it easier, cheaper and faster to install on public roads and streets.  

It is one of a series of measures included in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which also reveals plans to cut the wait for new grid connections by up to seven years and speeding up the construction of new energy infrastructure with targeted reforms to push through planning decisions faster.

The Bill, which is being formally introduced to Parliament this week, aims to overcome what the Government describes as the flawed ‘first come, first served’ process with a ‘first ready, first connected’ system that prioritises the homegrown clean power projects for quicker connections.

For decades, it says that developers, energy companies and businesses have been inundated with lengthy processes and planning delays that have acted as a barrier to growth, and the forthcoming Bill will set out how the delivery process for critical infrastructure will be streamlined.  

Energy secretary Ed Miliband said: “Every turbine, every solar panel, every cable we connect helps protect families and paves the way for a new era of clean energy for our country.”

The series of targeted reforms being delivered through the Bill are aimed at accelerating growth and speeding up the Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.

They also include giving people living within up to 500 metres of new pylons, electricity bill discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years; instructing Ofgem to deliver a ‘cap and floor’ scheme to unlock investment in long duration electricity storage (LDES) to store renewable power; and changes to the planning rules for new clean electricity infrastructure in Scotland, such as onshore wind farms and pylons, cutting delays to the process.

Policy lead at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), James Barwise, welcomed the measures to accelerate the delivery of infrastructure that's “vital” for the industry. 

“In recent years, the average timeline for gaining planning consent for major projects has increased from 2.6 years to 4.2 and the number of projects that are subject to successful legal challenge is increasing,” he explained.

“These challenges delay new highways projects, logistics hubs and other major schemes which are key for our industry and the wider economy.”

“Last year, the RHA's message to the new Government was clear: to deliver long-term growth, the planning system must be overhauled and made fit for purpose.

“We're glad to see the Government has heard our message loud and clear, and the measures in this Planning Bill are the initial steps on a long journey to delivering the fit for purpose infrastructure that the freight and logistics sector needs”

John Cassidy, managing director of sales at Close Brothers Motor Finance, added: “The Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill sets out plans to streamline the installation process of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This is a step in the right direction to encourage a shift towards EVs, which is key to meeting the Government’s own net zero ambitions.”

However, he stressed: “A lack of incentives for motorists still acts as a major hurdle to EV adoption. The Government needs to consider wider measures to avoid shooting itself in the foot.

“The impending removal of the EV exemptions from vehicle excise duty and the expensive car supplement will make EV ownership more expensive and unappealing for potential buyers.”