Agenda item

Report of the Head of Planning and Infrastructure

The Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager presented the report to members and set out the Government’s final policy positions and the requirements for EV charge points in various building types, including the conversion of buildings. The report included the exemptions from the requirements that the government will introduce. These exemptions are largely intended to ensure that developments remain viable, where installations would be disproportionately difficult or costly.

Councillor Wyatt asked whether the Council would be adopting this stance with all new builds by making it standard practice to include charge points to all new houses being built within the district.

The Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager advised that from mid-2023 onwards this would be a requirement and, in the interim, he would speak with Housing Services to establish whether they would be adopting this policy any earlier.

The Committee sought information on how many new homes had already had charge points installed; had this policy already been introduced; and if not then why not?

Councillor Bigby confirmed that there were a couple of charge points in the new car park in Ashby and was not aware that any had been included in any council houses. He had requested, unsuccessfully, that one be included in the new car park on the Willesley estate. He asked whether the requirements set out in the Local Plan would be any more stringent than those set out in the Building Regulations which would enable the Council to install more than the minimum requirement where it was deemed appropriate to do so. 

The Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager advised that evidence would be required to demonstrate why North West Leicestershire is any different to anywhere else, requiring us to have more stringent requirements than those included in the Building Regulations.

Councillor Bigby felt that we should be considering looking at evidence such as being a largely rural area and our reliance on the car due to lack of public transport. Furthermore, we could look at what other local authorities are doing in this regard.

Councillor Johnson referred to the Hugglescote and Donington le Heath Neighbourhood Plan which includes a requirement for charging points on new developments and gave an example of where this had already been implemented. He argued that if the Parish Council could be forward thinking in this regard, then this Committee should be able to follow suit. 

Councillor Geary referred to restrictions which he felt may give way to developers manipulating figures to exempt them from their duty to provide charge points. He also felt that planning permission should not be granted where there is insufficient power to install charge points. 

The Chairman explained the difficulties faced by the Planning Committee in refusing planning applications on this ground where there are no objections from the energy companies.

In response to concerns raised by members who felt that the Local Plan should include its own policy on this matter, the Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager referred to the National Planning Policy Framework which states that Plans should serve a clear purpose, avoiding unnecessary duplication of policies. Therefore, should it be included in the Local Plan, he would be surprised if it survived an examination.

Some members felt that we should do it anyway and if it fails, at least we can say we tried. 

It was moved by Councillor R Morris, seconded by Councillor N Smith and

RESOLVED THAT: -

The proposed changes to the Building Regulations in respect of EV charge points and the implications for the Local Plan Review as set out in section 3 of the report, be noted.