EV Charging at a London Terraced House: Front Gardens, Dropped Kerbs and Cable Routes

Many London terraced houses have a small front garden but no driveway, or a tight parking space in front of the bay window. Getting a home charger working here is often possible, but it takes more planning than a detached house with a wide drive. This post covers the main things to check. It is general information, not legal or planning advice.

Can you park off the street?

A home charger needs the car to park on your own land. If you want to turn a front garden into a parking space, you will usually need the council's permission for a dropped kerb, often called a vehicle crossover. Some London councils refuse these on certain streets or in conservation areas. Check with your council before you spend money on paving or a charger.

Paving the front garden

In England, paving over more than five square metres of a front garden usually needs a permeable surface, or planning permission if it is not permeable. This is the time to lay a duct for the charger cable under the new surface, so it does not need lifting later.

Getting the cable to the front

• In many terraces the consumer unit is under the stairs or by the front door, which can make the cable run short and simple.
• If the meter and consumer unit are at the back, the cable may need to run through the house, under floors or along the outside wall.
• A survey will plan the neatest route and check the supply and earthing.

See our guide on whether you need a new consumer unit.

Wall or post

A charger on the front wall of the house is usually the simplest option. If the car parks further from the house, a small post-mounted charger may be better. Our guide to charger on a post or on the wall compares the two.

Listed buildings and conservation areas

If your house is listed or in a conservation area, there may be extra rules about where a charger can go on the front of the building. Check with the council's planning team first.

No off-street parking?

Running a cable across the pavement to a car on the street is usually not allowed without council permission, as it is a trip hazard. Some councils are trialling cable channels in the pavement; otherwise, look at lamp-post and on-street chargers. See our guide to charging without a drive.

Energy North Ltd installs chargers at terraced houses across North, East and West London with City & Guilds certified electricians. See our EV charger installation page to book a survey.