Electric vehicle cross-pavement charging cable licence

If your home doesn't have off-street parking, a cross-pavement channel allows you to charge your electric vehicle (EV) without trailing a charging cable across the pavement. It is an enclosed channel inserted into the pavement, from the end of your property to the end of the kerb.

We are trialling this application process in partnership with St Albans City and District Council.

Check if you may be eligible and apply for a cross-pavement channel

Information:

Before you apply, you'll need:

a photo of the proposed cross-pavement channel location (mark your preferred location on the photo, if you can)
written permission from the landowner for your chargepoint and cross-pavement channel, if you're a tenant
the supplier and model of your home chargepoint, if it's already been installed.

Eligibility Cost What happens next and how long it takes

Eligibility

Your cross-pavement channel location must meet the following criteria:

It must be in St Albans postcode AL1, AL2, AL3, AL4 or AL5 (our trial area).
It must be on a road that we maintain, not a private road.
It must be 2m from any trees, 10m from any junctions and 11m from any electrical or metal infrastructure such as streetlights or crossing lights.

Distances - why they're needed and comparable measurements >

10 metres from a junction
This distance is to ensure visibility, access and safety for all drivers. 10 metres is approximately the length of 2 cars.

2 metres from a tree
This distance is to minimise the risk of damage to the channel. 2 metres is approximately the arm span of an average adult or the height of an average door frame.

11 metres from electrical infrastructure
This distance is to ensure safety when charging your car in proximity to another charging car or other electrical items. 11 metres is approximately the length of a double decker bus or the height of a typical street light column.

It must not cross any grass verges.
Your property must not have a dropped kerb, a driveway or other off-street parking.
If we approve your application in-principle, you must then get planning permission from your district council to install a home chargepoint from the Government's list of eligible chargepoint models.
You must be able to park your vehicle fully on the road, as the cable channel will run to the edge of the kerb.
You must have regular access to it. A cross-pavement channel does not guarantee you a reserved parking space on a public road.

Cost

We charge a non-refundable fee of £200 to assess your application.

If your application is approved in principle, we will provide an additional quote for installation.

Installation normally costs £1,200, including a subsidy from the Pavement Channel Grant. In exceptional circumstances, such as an extremely wide pavement, there may be a higher fee.

These charges are exempt from VAT.

What happens next and how long it takes

After you submit your application and pay the assessment fee:

1. We’ll assess your application. We aim to do this within 6 weeks. If your proposed location isn't eligible, we'll refuse your application.

2. If your application is approved in principle, we'll send you a quote for installation and ask you to provide copies of:

planning permission for your home chargepoint, from your district council. This can take up to 8 weeks.
your home chargepoint's electrical installation certificate
evidence of public liability insurance
our signed licence agreement.

3. Once you pay the installation fee and provide the required documents, we'll arrange to install your cross-pavement channel. We aim to do this within 12 weeks.