Mandatory Electric Car Charging Points for New Homes

In a consultation published this week, the government is proposing to create a new part to the Building Regulations requiring electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new buildings and buildings undergoing material change of use and major renovation. If the planned changes to Building Regulations are approved, it would force homebuilders to install charging points at a cost of nearly £1,000 so potential owners will be able to easily charge their plug-in hybrids and electric cars at home.

The drive towards EVs comes as the UK government sets out to meet stringent targets for air quality and pollution caused by internal combustion engine emissions. From 2040, the £1.5 billion Road to Zero strategy will see the sale of all new cars without electrification banned.

In the new consultation the government is proposing a raft of changes:

• Residential buildings: Every new residential building with an associated car parking space to have a charge point. This requirement applies to buildings undergoing a material change of use to create a dwelling. The government proposes requiring every residential building undergoing major renovation with more than 10 car parking spaces to have one charge point and cable routes for electric vehicle charge points in every car parking space.
• New non-residential buildings: Every new non-residential building and every non-residential building undergoing a major renovation with more than 10 car parking spaces have one charge point and cable routes for an electric vehicle for one in five spaces.
• Existing non-residential buildings: A requirement of at least one charge point in existing non-residential buildings with more than 20 car parking spaces, applicable from 2025.