London bylaw: Onsite EV charging for new buildings

Land Use and Zoning England 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 02, 2026 Flag of England

Overview

London, England requires new developments to consider electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at the design stage. Developers and builders must follow the Greater London Authority guidance and the London Plan policies that set expectations for passive provision and active charging where appropriate. Early coordination with the local planning authority and building control reduces delays and avoids enforcement risk. The guidance is current as of February 2026 and applies across Greater London boroughs, though detailed requirements are set by each local planning authority and building control team [1].

Requirements for New Buildings

Requirements vary by borough and by use class (residential, retail, offices, hotels). Typical municipal expectations include planning-stage provision for cabling, a proportion of active charging points, and accessibility for future charger upgrades.

  • Design stage: include EV cabling routes and allocation of parking spaces for chargers.
  • Planning conditions: many approvals require a charging strategy or condition on delivery and operation.
  • Building control: compliance with electrical and fire safety rules when installing chargepoints.
  • Accessibility: dedicated accessible charging bays where required by local policy.
Include empty conduit and marked spaces so chargers can be installed later without remodelling.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement is carried out by each local planning authority (borough planning enforcement) and by local authority building control for building regulations breaches. Where installations depart from approved plans or planning conditions, authorities can issue enforcement notices and require remedial works.

  • Fines: monetary penalties for planning or building regulation breaches are not specified on the cited page; local authorities set enforcement actions and sanctions [2].
  • Escalation: councils typically issue informal notices, then formal enforcement notices; specific escalation ranges are not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: enforcement notices, stop notices, requirements to remove or modify works, or court injunctions.
  • Enforcer and complaints: report breaches to the local planning authority or building control team; see official reporting guidance [2].
  • Appeal/review: routes and time limits vary by authority; specific statutory time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited page.

Applications & Forms

There is no single London-wide EV charging form. Applicants normally submit planning applications or discharge planning conditions via their borough planning portal and building regulation applications to local building control or an approved inspector. Local councils publish application forms and fee schedules; consult your borough for forms and submission methods.

Practical Compliance Steps

  • Pre-application: discuss EV provision at pre-app with the local planning authority.
  • Design: specify cable routes, distribution capacity and reserved spaces for chargers.
  • Application: include an EV charging strategy with planning submissions where required.
  • Inspection: arrange building control inspections for electrical works and certificate of compliance.
Early engagement with building control avoids costly retrofits.

FAQ

Do all new dwellings in London need active EV chargers on completion?
Not uniformly; many boroughs require passive provision (cabling and space) and a proportion of active chargers depending on local policy.
Who enforces EV charging requirements?
Local planning authorities and building control enforce planning conditions and building regulations respectively.
Where do I find the design guidance for EV infrastructure in London?
Use the Greater London Authority guidance and your borough planning guidance; guidance links are in Resources below.

How-To

  1. Check the borough planning and parking standards for EV requirements and permitted ratios.
  2. Consult the Greater London Authority guidance during concept design to meet London Plan expectations [1].
  3. Submit a planning application or discharge condition showing an EV charging strategy if required by the local planning authority.
  4. Apply for building control approval or use an approved inspector for electrical installation and request inspection and certification.
  5. Deliver charging infrastructure or passive provision as approved and retain records and certificates for compliance checks.

Key Takeaways

  • Plan for EV provision early to meet borough and London Plan expectations.
  • Local planning authorities and building control oversee compliance and enforcement.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Greater London Authority - Electric vehicle charging infrastructure
  2. [2] GOV.UK - Report planning enforcement

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