Electric vehicle charging
Approved pavement crossings
The Highways Act 19801 makes it illegal to place a wire or apparatus over, along or across a highway/pavement without consent from the Highway Authority. Penalty fines can be given unless there is proof that all necessary means to give adequate warning have been taken. If you choose to do so, then you are liable for any injuries which are caused.
The local highway authority will be the country council, unitary council or metropolitan district. The exceptions to this are Transport for London for Greater London Authority roads and Highways England for trunk roads.
Cable pavement crossings can be temporary or permanent in nature. An application to the Highways Authority to lay an EV charging cable across the pavement can be made but will not always be accepted.
For permanent solutions the Highways Authority may instruct the works and own the cable pavement crossing and issue use rights to the householder by license.
In either case it is likely that conditions will be attached such as:
- the mitigation of obstruction and safety risks to minimise inconvenience,
- prohibiting overhanging,
- materials used and the standard of workmanship,
- standard of reinstatement after use is completed,
- the location and appearance.
Depending on the ownership of the pavement crossing, a separate planning permission for the pavement crossing may be required. Unless owned by the Highways Authority you will need to acquire separate planning permission. Pavement cable crossings are unlikely to be covered under the householder planning permission for the electric vehicle (EV) charging point itself where they are outside the curtilage of the building on a pavement classed as highway. Your Local Planning Authority can advise on this.
You may reach an understanding that trailing a cable from an EV home charger is not possible due to a lack of consent from the local Highways Authority. In these cases, you should consider any alternative charging options such as public or work charge points.
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/66/contents