Moray Council in Scotland has adopted a policy allowing cable grooves to be cut into pavements, enabling residents without off-road parking to charge electric vehicles at home without creating trip hazards. Councillor Draeyk van der Horn, who proposed the motion in 2024, noted that around 30 per cent of Moray households lack off-road parking. Installation costs fall to homeowners or service providers, though the Scottish Government's Energy Savings Trust offers a cross pavement charging grant to support uptake.
Why it matters: The policy opens a regulated pathway for residential charge point installations in areas where roughly a third of homes have no driveway access, potentially expanding the addressable market for domestic charger suppliers and installers. Standardised kerb markings under review may also clarify site suitability and reduce conflicts over pavement space.
United Kingdom14 Sep 2026Source InstaVolt Ltd has submitted plans to install four rapid electric vehicle charging stations at the King James Retail Centre car park in Godmanchester, near Huntingdon, replacing six existing standard parking spaces across approximately 122 square metres. The proposal includes one fully accessible charging bay and associated equipment. InstaVolt currently operates more than 2,500 rapid chargers already in service or under construction across the UK.
Why it matters: The application illustrates the trade off between traditional parking provision and EV infrastructure at retail destinations, a planning tension likely to recur as charge point operators target high footfall sites. For procurement teams and local authorities, the case offers a reference point on space ratios and accessibility requirements when evaluating similar retail car park conversions.
Hunts PostUnited Kingdom14 Sep 2026Source Harborough District Council reports that construction of a 12-point, 11 kW charging hub under a solar canopy at The Commons car park in Market Harborough is on schedule to finish by 19 September. The facility will not open immediately after build completion because the council is waiting for the energy provider to install an electricity supply meter. A section of the car park next to the Co-op remains closed during construction.
Why it matters: The project illustrates a common grid connection bottleneck: civil works can finish on time yet commissioning stalls while DNOs schedule metering, a risk procurement teams should price into delivery timelines. The 11 kW AC and solar canopy combination also signals a trend towards slower, destination charging with on-site generation in district council portfolios.
