On-street EV charging in UK is postcode lottery as drivers face council objections
SkimNews Take
Local council objections to on-street EV charging infrastructure reveal a tension between national decarbonization goals and local governance concerns about public space and existing infrastructure.
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- Ed Miliband announced that on‑street charger gullies will cut drivers’ electricity costs, but many councils still refuse to allow them.
- Kent Council and other local authorities such as Leicester City Council, Worcestershire County Council and several London boroughs (Westminster, Hackney) are among over 20 local authorities that have not approved gully installations, citing safety, liability, parking and aesthetic concerns.
- Field Dynamics estimates 9.3 million UK households lack off‑street parking, making street‑side charging essential.
- Kerbo Charge is working with 48 local authorities that allow or are trialling gullies, yet almost one‑fifth of the 83 English authorities did not apply for the government’s cross‑pavement funding.
- Leicester City Council says terrace‑house owners cannot always park directly outside their homes, citing accessibility concerns for gully installations.
Why it matters: Homeowners without driveways gain cheaper electricity if gullies are approved, while councils and drivers lose out as delays keep them reliant on expensive public chargers, undermining the UK’s EV adoption targets.
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