Can you charge an electric car at home without a driveway?
Yes. If you park on the street outside your home, the safe and legal way is a cross-pavement channel: a narrow covered slot set into the pavement that your charging cable lies in, running from a charge point on your house to your car. You need your council's permission, and a government grant pays 75% of the charge point and installation cost, up to £500. In September 2026 the government confirmed that in England these channels will no longer need planning permission.
Around four in ten UK households have no off-street parking. Until recently most of them had two choices: trail a cable across the pavement, which can break the law, or rely on public chargers, which cost far more. That is changing. This guide explains your options, what the new rules mean, and the cable you will need.
Key points
- Never trail a charging cable loose across a pavement. It is a trip hazard and can breach the Highways Act 1980.
- A cross-pavement channel, also called a cable gully, is the approved solution. Your local highway authority must agree to it.
- In England, a new permitted development right will remove the need for planning permission. Highway consent is still required.
- The on-street chargepoint grant covers 75% of the cost, up to £500, and is open until 31 March 2027.
- Most cross-pavement setups need a 10m or 15m Type 2 cable. Measure the route before you buy.
What changed in September 2026?
In mid September 2026 the government confirmed it will create a new permitted development right for cross-pavement charging in England. Homes directly next to the road will be able to install an approved cross-pavement solution, and the charge point that goes with it, without applying for planning permission. The legislation is being prepared now.
Two things do not change. Your local highway authority still has to approve anything that goes into the pavement, and it still sets the safety conditions. And the rule applies to England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own planning rules, so check with your council there.
The change follows a consultation announced by the Department for Transport in October 2025. EVA England, which campaigned for it, says public charging can cost up to ten times more than charging at home.
Is it legal to run a charging cable across the pavement?
Not loose on the surface. Government guidance says a trailing cable is a trip hazard, especially for people with limited mobility, and may breach the Highways Act 1980. Councils can remove it, and if someone trips you could be liable.
Cable covers and mats laid on top of the pavement are not the answer either. They are not eligible for the grant, and many councils will not accept them. We cover the law in detail in can you run an EV charging cable across a pavement?
How does cross-pavement charging work?
There are two main types of cross-pavement solution.
| Type | How it works | Cable you need |
|---|---|---|
| Cable channel (gully) | A narrow slot is cut into the pavement with a hinged or sliding cover. You lay your cable in it while charging and lift it out afterwards. | Your own Type 2 to Type 2 cable, long enough to reach from the charge point to your car's port |
| Under-pavement connection | A cable runs permanently under the pavement to a socket or pop-up unit at the kerb. | A Type 2 cable from the kerbside unit to the car, usually 5m |
Channels are the most common option for single homes because they are simpler and cheaper to install. Several councils, including Royal Greenwich and North Northamptonshire, have run trials.
How to get a cross-pavement charger, step by step
- Check you are eligible. You need to own or rent a home directly next to the road, with somewhere you can usually park outside. If you rent or live in a leasehold flat, get written permission from your landlord or freeholder.
- Contact your council. Ask the local highway authority whether it allows cross-pavement solutions and which types and installers it approves. It will usually issue consent under section 178 of the Highways Act, and installers may need a licence under section 50 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
- Get a quote from an OZEV-approved installer. They will fit the charge point on your house and the channel in the pavement. Costs vary with the site, so get more than one quote.
- Apply for the grant. Once the council has agreed, apply for the EV chargepoint grant for households with on-street parking with evidence of the highway consent. It covers 75% of the cost, up to £500, and is open in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland until 31 March 2027. The grant is paid to your installer.
- Have it installed, then buy the right cable. Most cross-pavement charge points are untethered, so you supply the cable. See the next section.
For a wider view of home charger prices, see how much does it cost to install an EV charger at home?
What length cable do you need for cross-pavement charging?
Longer than you think. The cable has to go from the charge point on your wall, down to the pavement, along the channel, over the kerb and round to your car's charge port. Measure that exact route with a tape or a piece of string, then add a metre of slack.
Where your car's charge port sits makes a big difference. If the port is on the road side of the car, the cable has to wrap round the car to reach it.
| Where the port is | Examples | What it means on the street |
|---|---|---|
| Nearside (kerb side) | Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, Vauxhall Corsa Electric, Peugeot e-208, BMW plug-in hybrids | Shortest run. A 10m cable often covers it. |
| Offside (road side) | BMW electric cars such as the i4, Volkswagen ID models such as the ID.3, Xpeng G6 | Cable must go round the car. Allow a 15m cable, and keep it tight to the car so it does not trail into the road. |
| Front centre | Renault Zoe | Park nose towards the channel where you can. |
If you can reverse or pull forward so the port is closest to the channel, do it. Every metre saved makes the cable lighter to handle every day.
| Cable | Suits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 10m Type 2, 32A | Charge point near the pavement, port on the kerb side | £178.99 |
| 15m Type 2, 32A | Deeper front gardens, or a port on the road side | £275.00 |
| 20m Type 2, 32A | Long runs where you cannot park directly outside | £349.00 |
Each is a 32A single phase cable, giving the full 7.4kW a home can supply. They are IP55 rated, work from -30C to +50C and carry a 2 year manufacturer's warranty. Prices are correct at the time of writing (September 2026). Never join two cables to make up the length. Our guide to extending an EV charging cable explains why.
"The question we get most from street parkers is how long a cable they need. Measure the real route, not the straight line, and check which side your charge port is on. That one check saves a lot of returns." Andrew Gillespie, Director, EV Cable Shop
Looking after your cable on the street
- Lay the cable flat in the channel and close the cover fully. Nothing should stick up for a pedestrian to catch.
- Take the cable in when you finish charging. A cable left in the channel is a theft risk. See how to protect your EV charging cable from theft.
- Set the car to keep the connector locked while charging, so the plug cannot be pulled out.
- Store it dry in a cable bag or on a wall bracket, and check the plugs for grit from the channel.
- Rain is fine. Type 2 connectors are rated for wet weather once plugged in. See is it safe to charge my electric car in the rain?
Other ways to charge without a driveway
If a cross-pavement charger is not possible for you, these options still let you charge cheaply.
| Option | How it works | What to carry |
|---|---|---|
| On-street residential chargers | Many councils fit chargers in lamp posts or kerbside posts. Many are sockets with no cable fitted. | A Type 2 to Type 2 cable, 5m |
| Workplace charging | Charge during the working day on your employer's posts. | A Type 2 cable. Three phase if your car takes over 7.4kW and the posts are 22kW |
| Destination posts | Supermarkets, gyms, car parks and hotels often have 7kW or 22kW posts. | A Type 2 cable in the boot |
| Friends and family | Charge from a relative's socket or wallbox when you visit. | A granny charger for a 3 pin socket |
Not sure which cable suits your car and these posts? Our guide to choosing a Type 2 charging cable walks through it.
Charging without a driveway FAQs
Can I charge my electric car if I live in a terraced house?
Yes. A cross-pavement channel from a charge point on your house to your car is designed for exactly this. You need your council's approval, and the on-street grant covers 75% of the cost, up to £500.
Do I need planning permission for a cross-pavement charger?
In England, the government confirmed in September 2026 that a new permitted development right will remove the need for planning permission. You still need consent from your local highway authority. Elsewhere in the UK, check with your council.
Can I run my charging cable across the pavement if I cover it with a mat?
This is not recommended. Government guidance treats trailing cables as a trip hazard that may breach the Highways Act, and temporary covers and mats are not eligible for the grant. Use an approved cross-pavement channel.
How much is the cross-pavement charging grant?
75% of the cost of buying and installing the charge point, up to £500, for households with on-street parking that also install a cross-pavement solution. Applications close on 31 March 2027.
What length cable do I need for a cross-pavement channel?
Usually 10m or 15m. Measure the route from the charge point, along the channel and round to your car's charge port, then add a metre. Allow more if the port is on the road side of the car.
Can I use a granny charger through a cross-pavement channel?
The grant and council approvals are for a proper charge point on your home. Use the charge point with a Type 2 to Type 2 cable in the channel, and keep the granny charger for trips away.
