Installing a home charge point
If you are considering installing an EV ChargePoint at your home, there are a number of requirements you should check before arranging installation.
Check whether you need planning permission
Some home EV ChargePoint installations benefit from Permitted Development Rights, meaning you may not need to submit a planning application.
For a ChargePoint to benefit from these rights, all relevant planning conditions and limitations must be met. The requirements are set out in Schedule 2, Part 2, Class D and Class E of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended).
For example:
- Wall-mounted chargepoints: the ChargePoint and casing must not exceed 0.2 cubic metres.
- Upstand or pedestal chargepoints: the unit must not exceed 1.6 metres in height.
- Other restrictions and conditions may apply depending on the property and location.
Important: Meeting the electrical or Building Regulations requirements does not automatically mean that planning permission is not required. The proposed installation must also meet the relevant planning requirements to benefit from permitted development rights.
Email: planning.enforcement@newham.gov.uk
Conservation areas and listed buildings
Additional planning controls may apply if your property is:
- Within a Conservation Area affected by an Article 4 Direction;
- A Listed Building; or
- A flat, maisonette or certain types of converted property where permitted development rights may not apply.
You can check whether your property is within a Conservation Area by visiting the Council’s Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings page.
If you are unsure whether your proposed installation requires planning permission, contact the Council's Planning Enforcement Team at Planning.Enforcement@newham.gov.uk before installation.
Installation and Safety Requirements
Planning permission and electrical safety are separate requirements.
Your ChargePoint should be installed by a suitably qualified installer and comply with the relevant legislation, Building Regulations and recognised installation standards, including:
- Building Regulations Part P – electrical safety in domestic properties;
- Building Regulations Part S – electric vehicle charging infrastructure;
- BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations);
- IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation; and
- PAS 1899, where applicable, for accessible EV charging.
The ChargePoint cannot simply be installed wherever or at whatever height you choose. The installer should determine the appropriate location and mounting height taking into account:
- The manufacturer's installation requirements;
- Electrical safety;
- Accessibility;
- The property and surrounding environment; and
- The applicable planning requirements.
As accessibility guidance, the EV socket-outlet should generally be positioned within the 0.75m to 1.2m range, where practicable.
Remember: An installation can comply with electrical and Building Regulations but still require planning permission if it does not meet the relevant permitted development requirements.
If you do not own the property
If you are a tenant or leaseholder, you may need permission from your landlord, freeholder or building owner before installing a ChargePoint.
Any permission from the property owner is separate from planning, Building Regulations and highway requirements.
Charging across the footway
If you intend to charge your vehicle parked on the highway by running a cable across the footway, please note that this is not generally permitted due to the potential safety risk it poses to pedestrians.
However, the Council's current position is that, by exception the interim use of a suitable cable protection product where it:
- complies with the relevant ISO standards;
- includes black and yellow hazard markings;
- is used correctly while charging; and
- is removed immediately after charging has finished.
View examples of black and yellow cable covers on Google.
Important
The use of a cable protection product is an interim arrangement only. It does not give permission to install a permanent cross-pavement cable gully, channel or other alteration to the public highway.
The person using the cable and protection product remains responsible for ensuring that it is used safely and for any liability arising from its use on the public footway.
Before you Install
Check these four things first:
1. Property ownership
Do you have permission from the property owner if you do not own the property?
2. Planning
Does the proposed ChargePoint meet permitted development requirements, or do you need planning permission?
3. Installation
Is your installer suitably qualified and able to install the ChargePoint in accordance with Building Regulations and relevant electrical standards?
4. Public footway
If you need to charge from an on-street parking space, can you safely use a suitable interim cable protection product?
Pavement Channel Gullies
Newham Council is currently exploring pavement channel gullies to enable residents to safely route charging cables beneath the footway. Although pavement channel gullies are not currently available in Newham, we are reviewing best practice from other local authorities and engaging with stakeholders to assess whether a pilot scheme could be introduced in the future.
If you would like your location to be considered as part of any future review, please contact us at ElectricChargers@newham.gov.uk
Providing your details will help the Council to understand the level of demand for pavement channel gullies across the borough. This information will form part of the wider information considered when assessing whether a pilot scheme would be suitable for Newham. At this stage, no decision has been made on whether a pilot scheme will be introduced.
