EV charging just got a massive boost for millions in the UK — as rule changes make it easier to avoid 'driveway discrimination’ at home

• A relaxation of EV rules and a boost in grants will arrive in April
• It will become easier for owners to install embedded pavement channels
• Councils will also receive funding for the next three years to help them boost local charging infrastructure

Rule changes that are due to take effect on April 1 of this year could help reshape how UK drivers access EV charging — especially those without driveways.

Following an announcement made back in February 2026, the UK government says it has increased charge point grant amounts by more than 40%, while increasing support to local councils to make it easier for those without private driveways to access an EV charging solution.

For example, the government is said be easing restrictions on “cross-pavement” charging (which I've previously argued is a good but limited idea) making it simpler to run a compliant cable from a domestic residence to a street-parked car.

“Drivers without off-street parking have long faced ‘driveway discrimination’ when it comes to charging electric vehicles,” explains Matt Galvin, Managing Director, Polestar UK.

Galvin went on to explain that Polestar welcomes this policy to make it easier to install home charging solutions which will “help more people switch from petrol and diesel cars, reducing running costs and cutting air pollution and traffic noise in our towns and cities,” he added.

Analysis: A positive move for EV owners

The recent announcement by the UK government could be a real game-changer for EV owners, as one of the biggest road blocks towards the widespread adoption of this technology is the frankly unacceptable cost of the public charging network.

As EV battery packs get larger the effective “tank” now costs more to fill, and if EV owners aren’t able to install a charger at home, this is rapidly becoming unaffordable.

After recently driving the Kia EV9 for a week, I faced a bill of well over £150 in public charging fees. Covering the same distance in my old diesel van would have cost half the amount.

Unfortunately, those living with no off-street parking, renters and even small business owners are often faced with reams of red tape when it comes to EV charging options, such as those low-powered units installed on existing street furniture or cross-pavement charging solutions.

These see a small gulley made in the pavement or sidewalk, which allows EV owners to safely trail a charging cable from a flat or terraced house without causing a dangerous trip hazard.

It makes it possible to charge from a domestic socket, without the need to install a 7kW charger.

“We’re taking action to make EV ownership the affordable choice for everyone – not just those with driveways,” aviation, maritime and decarbonization minister, Keir Mather said.

“Bigger grants mean families, flat owners, renters and small businesses can now install a charger for almost half the usual cost, with home charging costing as little as 2p a mile,” he added.

On top of this, local councils will receive funding for the next three years to help them boost local charging infrastructure.

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, is also urging landlords to make best use of the grants, stating that almost 9 in 10 landlords with a suitable property would install EV charge points if a tenant asks them to undertake this work.

This recent announcement, alongside the existing £2 billion Electric Car Grant, which offers savings on certain electric vehicles, is designed to make the idea of EV ownership more attractive.

With prices of fuel still rising due to the conflict in the Middle East, Octopus Energy has reported that EV charger sales are up 20% month-on-month, as drivers look to “escape unpredictable costs at the pumps”.

EV demand is there, it just needs to be as simple as possible for prospective owners to be able to charge at home for less. Otherwise making the switch simply makes no sense.

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