Housebuilder Top Tip - Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy: Impact on Building Regulations

Published 30 agosto 2022

As the Government continues to implement its Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, an important step has been taken with significant implications for developers. Changes to Building Regulations came into force on 15 June 2022, meaning developers must install EV charging points in new and refurbished buildings.

What’s changed?

The Building Regulations 2010 have been amended to include requirements to install EV charging points as follows:

• New residential homes must have a charging point.
• New Residential Buildings with parking in a covered car park must have a charging point for each dwelling.
• Buildings converted for residential use that have a car park - must have a charging point for each dwelling with a parking space.
• Renovated residential buildings that include a car park with at least 10 spaces – must install a charging point for the use of each dwelling and cable routes for all other parking spaces.
• New non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces must have 1 charging point per 10 spaces and cable routes for at least 1/5 of the remaining spaces.
• Mixed use buildings - the requirements for residential buildings at point 1 and non-residential buildings at point 4 above will apply. This will require calculations based on the number of parking spots for each use.

Each charging point must be:

• capable of providing a reasonable power output;
• run on a dedicated circuit; and
• compatible with all vehicles which require access to them.

Challenges

The above requirements may cause practical headaches for developers, and thought needs to be given at an early stage as to the location of charging points and the necessary infrastructure required in each development.

The increase in the charging points being installed will however provide an opportunity for EV charge point installers and infrastructure providers in a growing market, add to green credentials and bolster ESG aspirations.