Daily EV news · UK · 18 December 2025
EV Charging
England scraps section 50 licence requirement to speed public EV charger rollout
The new Planning and Infrastructure Act removes the obligation for chargepoint operators to obtain a section 50 licence before installing equipment on public highways in England, replacing it with a street works permit system similar to that used by utilities. The change addresses a major bottleneck under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, where application timescales and costs varied widely. The reform accompanies a £600m funding boost and measures to reduce charging costs for drivers.
Why it matters
Streamlining highway access permissions cuts procurement timelines and administrative costs for CPOs deploying on street infrastructure. The alignment with utility permitting processes should reduce variability in project delivery schedules across local authorities.
North East completes 26 rural chargers in first phase of 92-unit programme
Northumberland County Council has installed all ten new charging points, while Durham County Council has delivered 16 of its planned 19 chargers, with three more due early next year. The installations form the first phase of North East Mayor Kim McGuinness's 92-charger rollout, funded through the Government's Levelling Up Fund and targeting strategic rural and semi-rural locations. Over the next five years, the North East is set to see more than 1,000 new charge points installed.
Why it matters
The programme demonstrates how Levelling Up Fund capital is being deployed to address rural charging gaps, with a clear phased delivery model that procurement teams can benchmark. The 1,000-unit five-year pipeline signals sustained demand for installation contractors and equipment suppliers across the North East region.