England has brought EV charge point operators into the same street works permit regime used by utilities, with new regulations made on 16 March 2026, laid before Parliament on 19 March and coming into force on 10 April 2026. The statutory instrument (S.I. 2026/312) on legislation.gov.uk updates the Traffic Management Permit Scheme (England) Regulations 2007 so installations are managed through permits rather than one‑off licences.

The Department for Transport’s amendment follows the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, which granted operators a legal right to carry out street works via permits under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. It drops the old “statutory undertaker” label, introduces a broader “undertaker” definition, and ensures the usual enforcement provisions apply to EV charging works.

This is administrative tidying with climate impact. Public, reliable charging is essential to cut road transport emissions, which the Climate Change Committee identifies as the UK’s largest share of greenhouse gases. A consistent, permit‑based route should reduce paperwork and avoid patchwork licensing, speeding up delivery without sacrificing safety.

For local highway authorities, the permit route gives clearer levers over timing, traffic‑sensitive hours, pedestrian access and reinstatement quality. Councils can set conditions, recover reasonable costs through fees where schemes allow, and issue fixed penalties when rules are breached-bringing EV street works into the same predictable governance used for other utilities.

For charge point operators, this brings parity and predictability. One permitting framework across England replaces a mosaic of Section 50 licences, encourages better scheduling and bundling of sites, and reduces the risk of last‑minute delays. The practical result should be faster build‑outs and fewer overruns.

For residents, there may be more short‑term activity around kerbsides as chargers are installed, particularly on streets without driveways. The pay‑off is clearer advance notice, shorter occupation of bays and tidier reinstatement, helping people cross pavements safely and plan around works.

The instrument was signed by Simon Lightwood, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, on 16 March 2026. It applies to England only and takes legal effect on 10 April 2026. No new impact assessment is published alongside it; ministers point back to the assessment prepared for the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.

Between now and the start date, councils can tighten guidance for EV permits, align charger digs with resurfacing or drainage programmes, and publish traffic‑sensitive windows early so installers can plan around school runs and bus corridors. Early conversations with distribution network operators can reduce connection surprises.

Installers can smooth delivery by booking works outside peak hours where possible, keeping footways accessible with ramps, and using quieter, lower‑impact techniques. Co‑locating ducting for future bays or sensors during a single excavation saves money and spares communities repeat disruption.

The shift aligns with the government’s 2030 charging ambitions and echoes recommendations from the National Infrastructure Commission to speed up local energy infrastructure. As the Energy Saving Trust and consumer groups point out, reliability and visibility build trust; good permitting helps turn those principles into practical streetside upgrades.