The Department for Transport and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government opened a consultation on 21 October 2026 on changes to Part S of the building regulations in England. The main proposal is to require EV charge points, not just cable routes, in new and majorly renovated covered car parks. The government is also reviewing the £3,600 average connection cost cap that has applied since 2021. Responses close at 11:59pm on 16 December 2026.
Key Takeaways
- England may require charge points in new and renovated covered car parks.
- The £3,600 connection cost cap from 2021 is under review, with CPI indexing an option.
- Minimum standards such as PEN fault protection and load management are being considered.
- Responses are due by 16 December 2026.
Key Proposals
| Area | Current rule | Proposal under consultation |
|---|---|---|
| Covered car parks | Cable routes only, in both enclosed and open-sided car parks | Mandate charge points, matching other building types |
| Connection cost cap | £3,600 average per charge point, set in 2021 | Update for inflation, possibly with annual CPI indexing |
| Charger standards | Raised in industry feedback during the review | Possible minimums such as load management and PEN fault protection |
| V2X readiness | Raised in industry feedback during the review | Views on wiring needed so homes can add V2X later; no mandate proposed |
| Tethered units | Untethered charge point requirement | Views on allowing more tethered installations |
Background
Part S was introduced in 2021 and requires charge points in most new buildings and buildings undergoing major renovation. Covered car parks were left out while fire safety was studied further. The consultation says available research suggests EVs are less likely to catch fire than combustion cars, and that excluding covered car parks has discouraged retrofits. It also notes industry feedback that, without proper installations, drivers may fall back on trailing cables from 3-pin sockets. The government is commissioning further research and will continue to take advice from the Building Safety Regulator. The consultation also feeds the post-implementation review of Part S.
What It Means
For developers and car park owners, a covered car park built or refurbished after any change could need working charge points from day one. That means planning electrical capacity, load management and fire strategy together. Installers will want products with dynamic load balancing and back-office control. A dual-connector Type 2 unit such as the EV-AC03201T, with OCPP 1.6J and RFID, is the kind of shared AC charger these sites often use; see our commercial charging solutions for project support.
The PEN fault protection and load management ideas are still proposals, but distributors selling into England should check that the products they stock already meet them, since a minimum standard would apply to every new Part S installation.
Related Reading
- Does the Tesla Wall Connector Have PEN Fault Protection? (UK)
- OCPP Explained: What Charge Point Operators Need From EV Charger Hardware
- EV Charging News: UK Public Chargers Reach 121,171 in Latest Government Statistics
