England has switched on a small legal change with big practical consequences. Section 49 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 is now in force (from 13 March 2026), allowing electric vehicle charge point operators to carry out street works under the permit regime rather than through the slower, less consistent Section 50 licensing route. The intent is simple: accelerate reliable on‑street charging while keeping pavements open and traffic moving.

Here’s what changes on the ground. Under the permit system, highway authorities coordinate timing and set conditions up front, with nationally set maximum fees and response times. For example, a standard permit application must be submitted 10 days before works begin and authorities must respond within 5 working days; maximum fees for standard permits are £75 or £130 depending on the road. All applications run through Street Manager, the Department for Transport’s digital service, giving a single, consistent process across England. (gov.uk)

Crucially, the Department for Transport signalled during consultation that permits should be cheaper and quicker overall than Section 50 licences, where fees and processes have varied widely by area. EV industry groups report Section 50 approvals can take months and often cost £500–£1,000 per licence-time and money that slow neighbourhood rollouts. By contrast, permit fees and timelines are nationally standardised, and Street Manager reduces repeat admin. (gov.uk)

Speed matters because public charging is scaling fast. Official DfT statistics show that, as of 1 January 2026, the UK had 116,052 public EV chargers (EVSE) and 87,796 charging devices, with roughly a third classed as on‑street. Moving installers onto permits should help councils coordinate these works alongside other utilities and road repairs, cutting avoidable clashes. (gov.uk)

Policy context also points to urgency. Government expects at least 300,000 public chargepoints by 2030 and the National Audit Office says installations are broadly on track, while warning that location, accessibility and planning barriers still need attention. A faster, clearer street works route directly targets those pinch points. (gov.uk)

The climate case is unambiguous. Independent analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation finds battery‑electric cars sold today in Europe produce around 73% lower life‑cycle greenhouse gas emissions than comparable petrol cars, even after accounting for battery manufacturing. More reliable public charging brings those savings within reach for drivers who cannot plug in at home. (theicct.org)

For communities, permits give councils sharper tools to manage disruption. DfT’s evaluation of permit schemes found works are typically completed faster under permitting, while codes of practice and permit conditions require safe pedestrian routes, clear signage and timely reinstatement-critical for wheelchair users, parents with prams and anyone walking to the shops. (gov.uk)

Operators will see some new disciplines. Access to permits comes with verification and Street Works Act codes, plus use of Street Manager for notices, start/stop updates and reinstatement guarantees of two to three years. The government’s outcome response also points to training on the platform for both authorities and installers-practical steps that should raise consistency. (gov.uk)

Accessibility must sit alongside speed. The Energy Saving Trust’s guidance on PAS 1899 (the UK accessibility specification for public charging) recommends dropped kerbs, clear reach zones and tactile paving where needed. Councils can bake these requirements into permit conditions so new bays work for every resident from day one. (energysavingtrust.org.uk)

What to do now: councils should line up priority streets using Street Manager to bundle works, align permits with other utility digs, and draw on LEVI funding to expand on‑street provision fairly beyond city centres. Charge point operators should pre‑agree local design details, especially accessibility, to avoid rework and win permits on first pass. The aim is visible: more bays, fewer cones, and cleaner miles sooner. (gov.uk)