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EV home charging · Kensington and Chelsea

Can you charge an EV without a driveway in Kensington and Chelsea?

Kensington and Chelsea currently rejects private cross-pavement solutions, including gullies. It is focusing on public charging while awaiting further electrical-safety advice.

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Current scheme status

Not currently permitted

Cross-pavement solutions currently not accepted

Where the scheme applies

Kensington and Chelsea highway authority area; neighbouring authorities have separate rules

Published cost position

No current approved household price or fee verified

Funding position

Programme funding, a public location request or a planning right does not grant household highway permission. For any future eligible permanent route, obtain required permissions and OZEV eligibility confirmation before charger installation. Temporary covers and mats are excluded from the permanent-solution charger grant.

Your practical route

What to do next in Kensington and Chelsea

The correct order matters: do not buy a channel or arrange pavement work before the authority confirms the route.

  1. Follow the current restrictionDo not arrange a home-supplied pavement channel or cable. A national planning right does not replace council highway permission.
  2. Use public charging with the correct parking rulesCheck live operator availability, tariff and bay signs. A lower EV permit tariff does not mean all parking is free.
  3. Keep estate interest separateCouncil-estate charging interest is handled separately at HM-Parking@rbkc.gov.uk. It does not approve a private pavement channel.
  4. Ask about an adopted policy changeFor general EV questions use EVCharging1@rbkc.gov.uk. Await current written terms before paying an installer; the council’s safety review has no confirmed launch date.

Site and policy checks

What could prevent the project?

Likely barriers

  • No acceptable cross-pavement solution currently published
  • Electrical-safety review is not a household application
  • Estate interest does not grant highway consent

Can a Kensington and Chelsea resident install a gully under the new planning rules?

Not under the council’s current highway policy. The October 2026 resident page explicitly rejects cross-pavement solutions. Planning rights do not override that decision.

Official source

Confirm the current council position

The resident page updated 15 October 2026 explicitly says no cross-pavement charging solutions are currently acceptable. The council cites maintenance, streetscape, parking and electrical-safety concerns while awaiting IET advice.

Compare other council EV routes

Council permission applies only within its own highway area.

Barking and Dagenham EV chargingPrivate cables across, above or beneath the highway prohibitedDerbyshire EV chargingChannel programme developing; final criteria and intake unverifiedDerby EV chargingRegional development recorded; current city household intake unverifiedNottingham City EV chargingRegional programme developing; city household intake unverifiedWindsor and Maidenhead EV chargingPublished 2023 cable restriction; current household intake unverifiedHillingdon EV chargingPavement cables, covers and gullies currently prohibited
Compare all council coverage →

Source last checked: 10 November 2026. This independent guide cannot grant highway permission or reserve a parking space.