Cross-pavement home charging trial

The Council does not currently have an adopted policy which enables residents to charge an electric vehicle (EV) from home when parked on the street. Highway regulations do not permit the trailing of a cable across the pavement which may put other highway users, including pedestrians, at risk.

The Council will be undertaking a trial of cross-pavement channels in due course. These are shallow gulleys cut into the footway and a channel lining installed with a lid. An EV charging cable can then be run across the pavement through the channel to charge an EV parked on street, reducing trip hazard risks caused by trailing cables.

Information will be made available here once the trial is launched.  This will include further information on eligibility criteria, how to apply, conditions which need to be met, costs, licence requirements and grants available.

Participants must be able to able to legally and safely park immediately outside of their home.  Trailing a cable at the kerbside, if parked further away, will not be permitted. Participants will not be able to reserve a parking space on the public highway outside of their home.

Not all locations will be suitable for the trial or this type of solution. 

Planning permission is required for the installation of a home EV charger if you are parking and charging on-street from a domestic energy supply.  More information on Planning regulations and Building Control can be found here Electric vehicle chargers - Electric vehicle charging - Planning Portal.  The government has committed to introduce permitted development rights for home EV chargers if installed as part of an approved local authority cross-pavement channel scheme.  The timetable for this new legislation is not clear. 

Residents are advised not to apply for planning consent or to install a home EV charger unless approved to participate in the trial. 

If you need to charge your EV now, please go to ZapMap to find a public EV charger near to you.  

To find out about new EV chargepoint sites in the pipeline, please view the interactive map at Connected Kerb.

You can share your ideas about where new public on-street chargepoints are needed by using the form below to suggest a public chargepoint site.  Do not use this form to register an interest in a home EV charger or cross-pavement channel. 

Suggestions will be shared with Connected Kerb and considered if opportunities for additional on-street sites come forward.

Last updated 21 September 2026