So, you’ve decided to go electric — and you’re ready to have a home EV charger installed. Great move.
But before you start imagining plugging in your car every night and skipping the petrol station queues, there’s one question almost everyone asks us first:
“Do I need planning permission for that?”
Let’s make this simple.
✅ The good news: You usually don’t need planning permission
For most homeowners in Basingstoke, Hook, Tadley, and across the UK, installing an EV charger at home is classed as permitted development.
That means you can usually install one without having to apply for planning permission — as long as your setup meets a few sensible rules.
The government made this change years ago to make EV adoption easier. So, if your charger is mounted neatly on a wall or in a driveway, you’re in the clear.
The key rules for EV charger installations
According to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, you’re allowed to install one wall-mounted or standalone electric vehicle charging point provided that:
- The charger is no larger than 0.2 cubic metres in size.
- It’s installed at or near a driveway or parking space within your property boundary.
- It’s not within 2 metres of a public highway (including the pavement).
- It’s not on a listed building or the principal elevation (front-facing wall) of one.
- The equipment is sited to minimise its effect on the building’s appearance and the local area.
In other words — if it’s small, tidy, and sensible, you don’t need to worry about planning.
⚠️ When planning might be needed
There are a few situations where you’ll need to check with your local planning authority before installing your charger:
- Listed buildings – you’ll almost certainly need listed building consent.
- Conservation areas – if your charger will be visible from the street, planning may apply.
- Flats or shared driveways – planning rules can differ for shared or communal parking spaces.
- Public-facing chargers – if you’re planning a charger for a business, apartment block, or customer car park, the rules are different.
For most single-family homes in Basingstoke, though, none of this applies.
Don’t forget about Building Regulations
Even though you probably don’t need planning permission, your installation must comply with UK Building Regulations — particularly Part P (Electrical Safety) and the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671).
That means it needs to be installed by a qualified, registered electrician — someone who can test, certify, and notify your local authority that the work meets the correct standards.
At GU Solutions, all our electricians are NICEIC-approved, which means we handle that entire process for you — safely, neatly, and fully certified.
🔌 What about smart chargers?
Since June 2022, all new domestic EV chargers installed in the UK must be smart-enabled — meaning they can:
- Communicate with the grid
- Schedule charging at off-peak times
- Reduce demand during peak hours
All the major brands — BG Sync, MyEnergi Zappi, Pod Point, Ohme, Rolec, and others — comply with this rule.
These smart features not only keep you legal but can also save you money by automatically charging when electricity prices are lowest.
What most Basingstoke homeowners do
The most popular setup we see locally is a wall-mounted charger on the side of the house or garage, right next to the driveway.
It’s discreet, weatherproof, and easy to reach — and best of all, completely within permitted development rights.
The whole process takes just a few hours, and when fitted by our team, you’ll get:
- Full installation and certification
- Smart setup via your app
- Advice on off-peak tariffs and energy savings
- Optional integration with solar panels and battery storage for even greener charging
The bottom line
For most homeowners, no planning permission is needed for a home EV charger — provided it’s installed neatly, within your property boundary, and by a qualified electrician.
The only real exceptions are listed buildings, conservation areas, and shared spaces.
So, if you’ve been holding off because of the paperwork, relax — it’s simpler than you think
Ready to power your electric future?
At GU Solutions, we’re registered BG Sync EV charger installers and have been helping local families in Basingstoke and across Hampshire power up safely for over 20 years.
We handle everything — from survey and installation to certification and setup — so you can start charging your EV the right way, right away.
📞 Call 01256 473326 or message us online to book your free home survey today.
Let’s make your home smarter, greener, and ready for the road ahead.
