Electric vehicle charging points
From 2035, it will no longer be possible to buy a new petrol or diesel car in the UK (though it will still be possible to trade and drive existing petrol and diesel cars after that date). Vehicle owners will therefore increasingly need to transition to electric vehicles or other alternatives.
Advantages
Electric vehicles have lower carbon emissions (particularly if charged with electricity from fully renewable sources) and do not produce harmful exhaust emissions, though they still produce air pollution from the wear of their brakes and tyres.
Electric vehicles can also be cheaper to run. It may be possible to reduce costs further by using a smart charger – this enables users to prioritise off-peak charging (which is usually cheaper). It also allows the electricity supplier to pause charging during times of greatest grid demand, helping to reduce the need for fossil fuels to augment renewable electricity generation.
Installation of EV charging points on domestic premises – planning requirements
The Council supports the installation and use of electric vehicle charging points to contribute to the achievement of its carbon reduction targets. Electric vehicle charging points do not need planning permission so long as the outlet does not exceed 0.2 cubic metres or would face onto and be within 2 metres of a public highway. However, any installation on a site designated as a scheduled monument, within the curtilage of a listed building or, in some instances, within a conservation area covered by an Article 4 Direction, would require planning permission.
In sensitive locations and on heritage assets, this equipment should be placed as discreetly as possible to avoid impacting on the character and significance of the asset. When no longer required, the charging point would need to be removed and any wall reinstated.
Please note: This section does not cover the creation of a driveway / access from the street to a property. For further information on this, please consult the Council’s Residential Crossovers and Off-Street Parking Policy. It should be noted that the provision of an EV charging point does not override the need to meet the minimum requirements set out in the policy.
Public EV Charging
The council is aware that not all properties will have the space or access to install their own EV charger. The Hounslow Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy (approved in November 2022) sets out our plan for delivering publicly accessible charging points, with over 2000 new points to be delivered across the borough by 2026. The majority of the chargers will be placed on-street, with a particular focus on areas that do not have much private off-street parking.
