Solar canopies and electric vehicle charging

Closes 18 Jun 2025

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Charging on Private Land (includes private and public charging)

The Current Planning Process 

Under current permitted development rights, when installing an EV outlet mounted on a wall in, for example, residential and commercial settings, a planning application is not required if the chargepoint does not: 

  1. Exceed 0.2 cubic metres 

  1. Face onto and be within two metres of a highway 

  1. Be within a site designated as a scheduled monument  

  1. Be within the curtilage of a listed building 

When installing a ground-mounted charger, i.e. on a free-standing base or post, the submission of a planning application is not required within an area lawfully used for off-street parking so long as the upstand and outlet does not: 

  1. In relation to an upstand and outlet - be within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse or a block of flats, exceed 1.6 metres in height from the level of the surface used for the parking of vehicles; or 

    1. in any other case, exceed 2.3 metres in height from the level of the surface used for the parking of vehicles; 

    2. be within two metres of a highway 

  2. Be within a site designated as a scheduled monument  

  3. Be within the curtilage of a listed building 

  4. Have more than one charging point per allocated parking space. 

People living in rental properties or multi-unit buildings may require permission from the landlord or property manager before installing an EV charger in addition to any planning requirements.

Combining low carbon technologies like solar power and energy storage systems with EV chargepoints can have multiple benefits, such as allowing users to access lower energy tariffs. In some charging settings, energy storage systems, like batteries, are being considered as a means for operators to obtain accelerated access to power collected at off-peak times. This consideration is due to high costs and lead times for grid connections, as well as falling battery prices. Planned changes, outlined below, may benefit such technologies.

Planned Changes to the Planning System 

The government has announced plans to extend permitted development rights to facilitate the further rollout of chargepoints by providing additional flexibilities for homeowners and businesses when installing electric vehicle chargepoints. This includes permitting taller upstands, outlets and upstands within 2 metres of the highway and facilitating the installation of equipment housing to support the operation of bigger and more powerful EV upstands in non-domestic off-street car parks. Legislation to enact these changes will be brought forward shortly.

1. Are the current planning rules around charging on private land appropriate? Are there further potential changes that could be made to the planning system in relation to EV charging installations and the associated site in residential and commercial settings, including listed buildings? What evidence can you provide that would support this position?
2 . Are the current and planned planning rules around equipment housing and energy storage systems (i.e. batteries), and the use of solar appropriate? Are there further changes to the planning system that could accelerate the installation of energy storage systems to support chargepoint installations? What evidence can you provide that would support this position?