54 councils rechecked: what changed for pavement charging
On 31 October 2026 we went back to the source for every council that had a live scheme, a trial, or a "not permitted" answer on Hedgevolt: 54 councils in all. We read each council's own pages, committee papers and, in one case, a Freedom of Information reply. Fourteen councils changed status. Most of the changes go the cautious way: trials that have finished, and schemes that were announced but have not opened.
Every council page on Hedgevolt now says, for free, what the council's scheme is, what it costs, and how to apply or what to do instead, with a link to each source.
Which councils changed status?
Now running or open
- Bradford runs its own footway channel trial with applications open. It was listed as "planned" from a vendor page. The council charges a £95 assessment fee, then from £999 plus VAT to install, including the first year's licence, then £50 a year.
- Sefton moves from "not permitted" to "under review". Its consultation page, open since 27 July 2026, says its opposition to cross-pavement charging is being reviewed and it is looking at trial sites.
Planned, not open yet
- Wandsworth announced a scheme in February 2026 for a March launch, but we found no way to apply. Residents can register interest by email.
- Devon and Torbay's joint trial has finished. Normal applications are expected from early 2027.
- Brent, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, North Northamptonshire and Shropshire have a trial or scheme on the way, but residents cannot apply yet.
Under review
- Coventry's trial ran on seven streets from November 2024 to November 2025. A council reply to a Freedom of Information request says it is now writing a policy and has no further trials planned.
- Blackburn with Darwen has closed its scheme to new applications while it reviews demand and funding. It hopes to reopen.
- Bath and North East Somerset's trial was approved in 2023 and no outcome has been published since.
No channels
- Norfolk does not allow channels in its pavements. Instead it gives a two-year permission, for £64.68, to lay a cable across the pavement under a surface protector you buy yourself. That route does not qualify for the on-street chargepoint grant, which needs a permanent cross-pavement solution.
- South Tyneside's page no longer says anything about home cables, so we now list it as having no published policy rather than as a refusal.
What does a channel cost now?
Prices vary a lot, and some have moved. These are the councils' own figures as of 31 October 2026:
- Richmond upon Thames: the government grant that cut installation to £250 is fully committed, so new applicants now pay £1,250, plus a £100 application fee and £150 for a three-year licence.
- Surrey: £499 for application and installation, then £4.99 a month for upkeep from year three.
- Central Bedfordshire: a fixed £999, usually £849 after a £150 grant discount.
- Milton Keynes: £99 for a survey and £900 to install, with up to 100 channels in its extended trial.
Council fees are separate from the chargepoint itself. The on-street chargepoint grant can pay 75% of that, up to £500, but only once your council has agreed to a channel.
What if your council says no?
Every "not permitted" council page now lists what the council does offer instead. Usually that is a form to ask for an on-street or lamp-post chargepoint near your home, and its plans for public chargers. In Hampshire, for example, the council has awarded a contract for about 17,000 charging sockets in areas without off-street parking. In Westminster you can ask for a chargepoint on your street with an online form.
How we check
Each status links to where it came from and shows the date we last checked it. Where a page did not say something, we left it out rather than guess, and figures we could not find on a council's page are not on ours. Our About page explains the method. If something has changed since, email help@hedgevolt.co.uk with a link and we will update the page.
See every council's status, or check your postcode for free at hedgevolt.co.uk.
Sources
- https://www.bradford.gov.uk/transport-and-travel/permits-and-licences/electric-vehicle-charging-cable-footway-channels/
- https://yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk/investment-programmes-and-infrastructure/ev-charging-points/
- https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/news-february-2026/new-grants-to-make-electric-vehicle-charging-more-affordable
- https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/46368/foi766960641
- https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/43416
- https://richmond.gov.uk/services/roads_and_transport/vehicles/electric_vehicles/electric_vehicle_footway_channels
- https://www.hants.gov.uk/News/20260506EVChargingScheme
- https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/sustainable/electric-vehicles
- https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/transport-roads-and-parking/electric-vehicles/electric-vehicle-charging-channels
- https://milton-keynes.gov.uk/highways/apply-home-ev-charging-channel