Can I install an EV charger for my electric car?
From time to time, we get asked for our advice about alterations or changes that residents want to make to their homes. We are always pleased to help where we can, often pointing people towards the place to find the answer to their query. We are not experts, and residents should always ensure they seek qualified professional support, and advice but over time, we have built up a range of knowledge. We thought it would be useful to share some of these on our website. In this first post, the issue is whether it is permitted for a resident to install an EV charger in the conservation area? The answer is “Yes”, but there are some issues to consider, so read on.
Living in a conservation area has lots of advantages. There are historic and architectural elements which makes them special. This also means some extra planning controls and considerations, to protect the area so that it retains those special features. They are most likely to affect owners who want to work on the outside of their home or building and any trees on their property.
People value conservation areas for their distinctiveness, visual appeal and historic character and research by the London School of Economics and Historic England has found that this value is reflected in the price of properties in conservation areas.
Generally, they cost more and appreciate in price more than properties in other areas, even after adjusting for location and other factors. So what if you want the added convenience of a charger for your car at home?
If you are installing one fairly small charger on the front wall next to an existing parking space then that will generally be permitted development, even in a conservation area. Before you do go ahead, we strongly recommend that you contact the city’s Planning Department, to make them aware of what you propose. The fairly modest restrictions in the national regulations can be found in this link and they are listed below:
Permitted development
E. The installation, alteration or replacement, within an area lawfully used for off-street parking, of an upstand with an electrical outlet mounted on it for recharging electric vehicles.
Development not permitted
E.1 Development is not permitted by Class E if the upstand and the outlet would—
(a) in relation to an upstand and outlet—
(i) 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
(ii) in any other case, exceed 2.3 metres in height from the level of the surface used for the parking of vehicles;
(b) be within 2 metres of a highway;
(c) be within a site designated as a scheduled monument;
(d) be within the curtilage of a listed building; or
(e) result in more than 1 upstand being provided for each parking space.
Conditions
E.2 Development is permitted by Class E subject to the conditions that when the development is no longer needed as a charging point for electric vehicles—
(a) the development is removed as soon as reasonably practicable; and
(b) the land on which the development was mounted or into which the development was set is, as soon as reasonably practicable, and so far as reasonably practicable, reinstated to its condition before that development was carried out.