Electric vehicle charging

Pre-planning advice allows for contact between the Local Planning Authority (LPA) and the applicant prior to the submission of a planning application. Pre-application advice can be accessed by contacting the LPA, at a variable cost depending on the level of information required. Both prices and timescales differ on an LPA-to-LPA basis, for more information on these you should check your LPA’s website.

LPAs may also publish free Technical Advice Notes that cover EV charging installations, to provide guidance to applicants. These, if provided, will be available on the relevant LPA’s website.

Pre-planning advice is open to all, but it may be more relevant for applications which are large and/or more complex in nature. Their complexity may be a result of prominent positioning of the charge point, restrictions placed on the area, integration into wider changes to a property, or particularly large developments.  

If your development location is, for example, within a conservation area or the building is listed, or if you are planning to install your chargers alongside wider changes to your energy system, then it may be useful to apply for pre-application advice.

For the best results you should begin communication with the LPA early on in the process, helping create a mutual understanding of what is wanted and any limitations. The advice given will help inform the planning application. However, any advice given is not binding and is provided purely as guidance.