Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to enable local authorities to introduce electric vehicle workplace charging schemes without prior permission from his Department.

The Government’s vision is for the UK to have one of the best electric vehicle infrastructure networks in the world. We recognise how vital it is that the UK chargepoint network continues to grow to support increasing numbers of electric vehicle motorists.

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles workplace charging scheme offers grants to businesses, including local authorities, of up to £350 per socket for installing up to 40 charging sockets for their employees and fleets. To date over 8,000 installations have been made by over 3,000 organisations using the scheme. If local authorities wish to introduce complimentary workplace charging schemes either for their own fleets or to support local businesses make the switch to zero emission vehicles then they are free to do so without the need for government approval.

Electric vehicle chargepoints are included within permitted development rights, this means that in most cases a chargepoint can be installed in an area lawfully used as an off-street parking space without needing to submit an application for planning permission. This right is not available if it affects a heritage building or asset.