Installing an EV charger in Epping Forest: driveways, flats and conservation areas

If you have off-street parking, such as a driveway, a home EV charger can usually be fitted without planning permission, because a small wall-mounted charger is normally allowed as permitted development. The exceptions are listed buildings, some properties in conservation areas and flats, where you may need consent first. Epping Forest has a number of conservation areas, so it's worth checking before you order a charger.

Houses with a driveway

This is the simplest case. We mount the charger on an outside wall or a post near where you park, run a cable from your consumer unit and connect it to its own protected circuit. Most installations take a day or less. Before we start, we check:

• Your supply. Whether your main fuse and incoming supply can handle a charger alongside the rest of your home. Many chargers can reduce their charging rate when the house is using a lot of power.
• Your fuse board. Older consumer units may need upgrading first. Our guide to fuse board upgrades for EV chargers explains why.
• Earthing. Many homes need extra earthing protection for an outdoor charger, which we include where needed.

Listed buildings and conservation areas

If your home is listed, you'll usually need listed building consent before fixing anything to it, including a charger. In a conservation area, the normal rules may be tighter, especially for chargers facing the street. Check with Epping Forest District Council before you go ahead. A charger on a post, or on a side or rear wall, is often easier to get approved than one on the front of the house.

Flats and shared parking

If you live in a flat or share a car park, you'll usually need the freeholder's or managing agent's permission to install a charger in an allocated space. There may also be a question of where the power comes from. The government has offered grants towards chargepoints for flat owners and renters, so check gov.uk for the current scheme before you start.

No driveway?

Never run a charging cable across a pavement from your house to a car on the street. It's a trip hazard and you could be liable if someone is hurt. If you only have on-street parking, check whether your council offers public or kerbside chargers near you.

Choosing a charger

A 7kW smart charger suits almost every home and car, adding roughly 20 to 30 miles of range per hour of charging. Smart chargers let you charge on a cheaper overnight tariff and control charging from an app. Our guide to EV charger installation costs covers the options and prices.

We install home chargers across Epping Forest, including Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Chigwell and Theydon Bois. Find out more on our EV charger installation page.