Search: Ed Miliband

More than 20 local authorities, including Kent, Leicester, Worcestershire, Westminster and Hackney, refuse to permit charging cable gullies that let residents charge EVs from domestic supplies at 5% VAT instead of 20% at public points. The ban affects millions among the 9.3 million UK households without off street parking, particularly in London where EV ownership and on street parking are both highest. Energy secretary Ed Miliband has pledged to slash red tape and promote gullies, yet councils cite safety, legal and parking concerns.

Why it matters: The postcode lottery undermines the business case for domestic charge point operators and gully suppliers such as Kerbo Charge, Gul-e, Pavecross and ACO, fragmenting the market for on street residential charging infrastructure. Procurement teams and charge point operators face a patchwork of local rules that complicate rollout planning and limit addressable demand in high density urban areas.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has announced new measures to support home EV charging, with legislation expected later this year to introduce permitted development rights for cross pavement charging solutions and associated charging points. The guidance aims to help renters, flat dwellers and households without driveways install chargers, with cross pavement solutions involving small gulleys cut into pavements to feed cables without obstructing pedestrians. Kerbo Charge CEO Michael Goulden welcomed the announcement as decisive action needed to expand charging access.

Why it matters: Permitted development rights will remove planning barriers for on street residential charging infrastructure, opening a significant new market for installers and charge point operators targeting properties without off street parking. The legislative change addresses a key barrier to EV adoption in urban areas where millions of UK households lack driveway access.

Donald Trump has condemned a memorandum of understanding signed between UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and California Governor Gavin Newsom in London, calling it inappropriate for the UK to deal with Newsom. The agreement aims to deepen cooperation on scaling up clean energy technologies and enhance ties between businesses and researchers in Britain and California. Trump described Newsom's environmental work as a disaster, in comments reported by Politico.

Why it matters: The diplomatic friction signals potential complications for UK and California clean energy partnerships, and could affect cross border collaboration on charging infrastructure and technology development if the White House seeks to discourage such state level agreements.