England has given electric vehicle charge point operators a simpler route to dig and install on-street chargers. Regulations signed on 12 March 2026 bring Section 49 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 into force on 13 March, moving public charge point installations from the section 50 licensing regime to a permit-based system overseen by local highway authorities. Under the change, where a street works permit is granted, installers will not also need a section 50 licence under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. (publications.parliament.uk)

In practice, charge point operators (CPOs) are folded into the same permit schemes used by statutory undertakers, with applications, timings and conditions set by councils and processed through the Department for Transport’s Street Manager service. Most authorities in England already run permit schemes, and Street Manager provides a single digital workflow and open data so residents can see what’s planned on their street. (ciht.org.uk)

Why it matters is simple: the old section 50 route was patchy and slow. Government’s impact assessment records section 50 fees ranging from roughly £250 to over £1,250, with some councils requiring bonds before works could start-and some places where CPOs could not apply at all. Shifting EV works into the permit regime is designed to standardise costs and speed decisions. (publications.parliament.uk)

The same assessment anticipates direct time and cost savings for both councils and CPOs, plus better coordination of digs so pavements are opened once, not repeatedly. CPOs will obtain a Street Works Act (SWA) code-verified via OZEV-so they can use Street Manager like other utilities, which should cut admin and reduce conflicting works. (publications.parliament.uk)

This lands as the public charging network scales. Official DfT statistics show 116,052 public EV chargers across the UK as of 1 January 2026, alongside 87,796 charging devices-a new metric focuses on individual connectors to give a truer picture of capacity. The next quarterly update is due in May 2026. (gov.uk)

Permits can help target rollout where it’s needed most. RAC Foundation analysis indicates around 65% of Great Britain’s households have, or could have, off‑street parking-meaning about 35% rely on street‑level options. Making on‑street installs less bureaucratic matters for those drivers and for cleaner air in dense urban areas. (racfoundation.org)

Safeguards are not diluted. Works still must meet the national reinstatement standard (SROH, fourth edition), and since April 2023 a performance‑based inspection regime has meant poor performers face more checks and charges until quality improves. Councils can attach permit conditions to limit disruption and protect accessibility. (gov.uk)

Quality at the plug is also tightening. Under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, new public chargers of 8 kW and above must offer contactless payment; networks must provide open data and a 24/7 helpline; and rapid sites are held to high reliability benchmarks, with roaming access rolling out across networks. The permitting change complements these consumer protections. (gov.uk)

What councils can do now: publish clear EV‑specific permit conditions; set target response times; and use Street Manager’s open data so residents can track schedules. Build accessibility in from day one-BSI’s free PAS 1899 standard sets practical layouts for wheelchair users and people with limited reach and grip. (gov.uk)

What operators can do now: prepare for SWA code verification, align internal processes to permit timelines, and keep sites compliant with the 2023 regulations on payments, reliability and customer support. Done well, this shift should mean quicker installs, fewer repeat digs and a more even spread of on‑street chargers-visible progress for the millions who can’t charge at home. (publications.parliament.uk)