Electric vehicle charging in Hertfordshire

 
You cannot run private charging cables across public roads, pavements and paths.

• They would create an obstruction and trip hazard for others using the pavement. We need to keep them safe and accessible for everyone.
• They would also breach electrical safety standards and are unlikely to be covered by public liability insurance.

We also don't currently permit cable covers or recessed cable channels (or gullies) due to liability and maintenance issues. However, in February 2025, our Highways and Transport Cabinet Panel agreed in principle to permit cross-pavement channels, but:

• only if we secure the necessary resources to manage and implement the channels effectively
• not until the electric vehicle strategy has been updated and approved at a future panel meeting
• only under certain circumstances, which will be outlined in our updated electric vehicle strategy.

This process may take time. We'll publish any updates on this page.

If you have access to off-road parking, in most cases you won't need any, as they are 'permitted developments'. You might need planning permission if the chargepoint will be:

• near a road or listed building
• a wall-mounted unit bigger than 0.2 cubic metres
• a ground mounted unit over 1.6m tall
• don't have access to off-street parking.

If you take part in our cross-pavement channel trial, you'll need planning permission for your chargepoint.

Once you have chosen a certified installer, ask them to:

• notify your electricity 'distribution network operator' (DNO)
• confirm the installation complies with building regulations and provide a Building Regulations Completion Certificate.

You don't need to notify the highways authority.

GOV.UK offers more advice on registering an electric vehicle chargepoint.

• How to charge with renewable energy - advice from the WWF.
• Use the WhenToPlugin app to charge when clean energy is available.
• Electric vehicle energy tariffs - a summary from MoneySavingExpert.
   

 
The Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund is a UK government initiative aimed at:

• expanding the availability of electric vehicle chargepoints across England
• helping people who depend on public charging to switch to an electric vehicle.

The fund has provided us with £6,015,000 of capital funding to deliver accessible and conveniently located chargepoints countywide, especially for residents without access to off-street parking.

Find out more about the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund.

We are working with three chargepoint operators to install chargepoints across different areas of Hertfordshire. The county has been split into areas to help support a smooth rollout and create clear, manageable networks for each chargepoint operator. 

Area 1: North Hertfordshire, St Albans and Welwyn and Hatfield.

A contractor has been approved and a contract is currently being finalised. Once the contract is signed, potential charging sites will be identified and assessed.

Area 2: Dacorum, Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Watford.

Contract awarded to Believ Ltd who will deliver publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure in this area. Sites are currently being assessed. Residents will be consulted as part of the process.

Area 3: Broxbourne, East Hertfordshire and Stevenage.

Contract awarded to Urban Fox who will deliver publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure in this area. Sites are currently being assessed. Residents will be consulted as part of the process.

We will update you as contracts are completed and new charging locations are confirmed.
 

 
Our strategy outlines how we plan to use the LEVI funding:

Electric vehicle charging strategy (PDF 2.4mb)

Summary of the electric vehicle charging strategy (PDF 1.16mb)

If you need these documents in a different format, please contact us.

This strategy was published before 20 May 2025, under the previous Conservative administration.

The strategy is currently being reviewed to ensure it aligns with current guidance and our corporate plan. This page will be updated once the revised strategy has been agreed.
 

 
We recognise that you want more on-street chargepoints near your homes, but on-street chargepoints are more challenging to install, so we have to carefully consider their locations. 

We are taking a data-led approach and prioritising on-street chargers where:

• there are obvious gaps in existing provision and there is potential demand
• residents do not have access to driveways or off-street parking
• there are no nearby off street car parks
• there are no existing publicly available chargepoints within approx. 5 mins walk or 400m.

The district and borough councils have helped us to identify target areas and suitable sites. They have also provided local knowledge on upcoming developments, local parking restrictions and spaces allocated for other projects.

You can also help us identify potential chargepoint locations: propose an electric vehicle charge point.

Read our electric vehicle strategy for more rules and criteria for potential on-street chargepoints.
 

 
Our appointed chargepoint operators will engage with local residents on proposed chargepoint locations before any installations take place. We expect new chargepoints to start being installed later in 2026.
 

 
We do allow electric vehicle charging from our streetlights, but it is difficult in Hertfordshire. Many of our streetlights are not suitable for charging as the columns are from older stock, so they:

• do not have the space or electric capacity for chargers
• are positioned at the back of footpaths.

We are working with district and borough councils to identify potential locations for on-street chargepoints and we'll also look at the potential for connections to streetlights where possible. This will depend on the type of light, its power supply, local grid capacity, local parking restrictions and the position of the lamp column.
 

 
We will mostly install slow, low-power (<8kW) chargers, because these offer cheaper energy tariffs. Our contracts with chargepoint operators will ensure their tariffs are affordable.