Guidance: Cross-pavement solutions for charging electric vehicles

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles' guidance on cross-pavement charging solutions addresses one of the biggest obstacles to EV adoption in the UK: the large share of households, particularly in terraced streets and older urban areas, that have no driveway or garage. For these drivers, the choice has often been between relying on public chargepoints or running a cable across the footway, which creates a trip hazard and is discouraged or prohibited by many local authorities. Cross-pavement solutions, typically channels or gullies set into the footway so that a charging cable can pass safely from the property to the kerbside, offer a practical middle ground. Government guidance helps local authorities, installers and homeowners work to a more consistent set of expectations. For electricians, this signals growing demand for domestic charging work in properties that were previously considered unsuitable. These installations bring their own technical and practical considerations. The footway works are usually subject to the local highway authority's permissions and approved contractors, but the electrical side remains the responsibility of the installer. That means designing the circuit, selecting suitable protective devices and RCD arrangements, and managing the earthing. The PME earthing requirements in Section 722 of BS 7671 deserve particular attention, because many terraced properties are supplied by PME systems, and the charging point is often mounted on a front wall facing the street. Installers will also need to think about where the chargepoint and cable outlet are positioned relative to the channel, comply with the smart charge point regulations, and complete proper certification and Part P notification where applicable. Understanding how the property-side installation fits with the highway-side infrastructure will matter as councils roll out schemes at scale. For trainees and qualified electricians, the guidance shows that EV charging is moving beyond the straightforward driveway installation and into more varied, and sometimes more complex, situations. A solid grounding in the current Wiring Regulations, including Section 722 and the IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation, is essential. So is competence in inspection and testing, so that each installation can be verified and certified with confidence. Electricians who already hold a dedicated EV charging qualification will find this a natural extension of their work. Those still building their careers should note that specialist knowledge in this area is becoming increasingly valuable as local authorities, chargepoint operators and homeowners look for installers who understand both the regulations and the practical realities of on-street residential charging.