New homes with parking, as well as supermarkets and workplaces, will be required to install electric vehicle charge points from next year, the Government has confirmed.
Ministers expect up to 145,000 charge points to be installed annually as a result of the new building regulations for England, which they intend to lay before Parliament by the end of the year.
The move follows a consultation on the changes which would mandate charge point infrastructure in new homes, new non-residential buildings, and when some buildings are renovated.
In its response to the results, the Government confirmed the reforms would go ahead, although ministers will not introduce a proposed requirement for one charge point in all existing non-residential properties with more than 20 parking spaces.
Leeds City station
The Department for Transport (DfT) said 'a more tailored approach' was needed for existing non-residential properties and so officials will 'work to introduce an alternative policy'.
The news measures that will come in are:
- Every new home, including those created from a change of use, with associated parking within the site boundary to have an electric vehicle charge point;
- Residential buildings undergoing major renovation, which will have more than 10 parking spaces within the site boundary after the renovation is complete, to have at least one electric vehicle charge point for each dwelling with associated parking within the site boundary and cable routes in all spaces without charge points;
- All new non-residential buildings, with more than 10 parking spaces within the site boundary of the building, to have a minimum of one charge point and in addition to this, cable routes for one in five of the total number of spaces;
- All non-residential buildings, undergoing a major renovation, which will have more than 10 parking spaces within the site boundary after the renovation is complete, to have a minimum of one charge point and in addition to this, cable routes for one in five spaces.
In a joint statement, transport secretary Grant Shapps and business secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, said: 'England will lead the world by legislating for new homes to have charge points. This will future-proof residential buildings ensuring people buying or renting new homes can start every day with a fully charged vehicle.
'The regulations will also ensure drivers without off-street parking at home have can charge conveniently as they go about their lives at new offices and shops, contributing to our rapidly expanding charging network.
'We expect up to 145,000 charge points to be installed every year as a result of introducing these regulations.'
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