New planning changes support retrofit heat pumps and EV charging

The installation of heat pumps and EV charging will now be made easier thanks to changes in planning legislation, which come into effect from 29 May 2025.

Published on 6 May, the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order 2025 Changes relate to Permitted Development rights for domestic EV chargers, Heat Pumps and Renewable Energy projects.

The changes will:

• make it easier to install charging points in off-road parking areas by deleting the ban on chargers being installed facing onto and within 2 metres of a highway; and expanding permitted development rights to cover EV Charging equipment and associated housing in some circumstances,
• alter some technical standards for air source heat pumps and wind turbines that can be installed under Permitted Development; and allow up to two heat pumps on or in the curtilage of a detached house, whereas previously Permitted Development Rights only allowed one.

This should help to support easier installation of EV charging stations and heat pumps (where they’re viable) and help to speed up the delivery of zero emission and clean heat and transport.

To find out more, visit GOV.UK’s Town and Country Planning Order 2025 IA page.

If you’d like to find out if your home is heat pump-ready or viable along with PV panels and batteries, complete the survey on thermly.co.uk.