New homes to require electric charge points

In a speech given to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that, from next year, new homes and buildings such as supermarkets and workplaces will be required to install electric vehicle charge points.

The move is designed to boost the country’s charge point capacity in the lead up to 2030 when the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will end in the UK. It also builds on the more than 250,000 home and workplace charge points the government has already supported to date.

As well as new homes and non-residential buildings, those undergoing large scale renovations which leaves them with more than 10 parking spaces will be required to install electric vehicle charge points.

In his CBI speech, Johnson said: “We will require new homes and buildings to have EV charging points – with another 145,000 charging points to be installed thanks to these regulations.

“We are investing in new projects to turn wind power into hydrogen and our net-zero strategy is expected to trigger about £90bn of private sector investment, driving the creation of high-wage high skilled jobs as part of our mission to unite and level up across the country.”

The government has also announced that, following a successful pilot with businesses, Innovate UK will deliver a new three-year programme of £150m in new innovation loans to help British SMEs commercialise their latest research and development innovations.

This programme supports businesses to grow, scale-up and create new highly-skilled jobs in the process, including those who would have otherwise been unable to secure private loans.

Whilst this is open to a variety of sectors, green businesses will be able to apply from early next year, many of which have already been benefiting during the pilot as the UK transitions to net zero.