New Government Plans: Making EVs, Heat Pumps and Solar Work for More Homes
- Leah Robson
- Apr 28
- 4 min read
Up until now, a lot of the conversation around EVs, heat pumps and solar has assumed one thing: That you own your home, have a driveway, and can install what you need without too many issues.
But for a huge number of people, whether that’s renters, flat owners, or homeowners on terraced streets without off-street parking, that just hasn’t been the reality.
It’s not just about cost or awareness. For many, it’s been much more practical than that:
Can I actually install this where I live?
Will I need planning permission?
That’s where these latest plans start to feel different. They’re not just about encouraging change, they’re about removing the barriers that have been holding people back in the first place.
EV Charging: Finally Solving the “No Driveway” Problem
For years, one of the biggest blockers to EV adoption has been simple:
“Where do I charge it if I don’t have a driveway?”
This affects homeowners and renters alike, especially in urban areas and suburbs where on-street parking is the norm.
For some EV drivers, that’s meant getting creative, running extension cables through a window, trailing them over a fence, or trying to charge from wherever they can reach. In some cases it works, but it’s far from ideal, and not always safe or practical as a long-term solution.
The government is now moving to tackle this from summer 2026, with plans to legislate and expand permitted development rights. This includes allowing cross-pavement charging solutions, meaning cables can safely run from a home to a car parked on the street, along with the installation of associated charging points.
Alongside this, a consultation launching shortly will look at wider changes to improve access to charging. This includes:
Increasing EV charging provision in new buildings
Ensuring major renovations include charging infrastructure
Making it easier for renters and leaseholders to request and install charge points
This is the kind of change that opens EV ownership up to millions of households who were effectively locked out before. No driveway no longer means no EV.
Heat Pumps: Making Installation Simpler
Heat pumps have often been limited less by the technology itself, and more by planning rules, especially in flats or more built-up areas.
The government has confirmed a consultation in summer 2026 on changes to permitted development rights, with the aim of making air source heat pumps easier to install.
This will explore widening permitted development rules, covering non-domestic buildings, relaxing some siting restrictions, and looking at how more heat pumps can be installed in flats.
Solar: Opening the Door for More Households
Solar has often been seen as something that works best if you’ve got the upfront budget and the right setup. There’s a shift happening here too, and it’s starting this year.
Through the government’s Warm Homes Plan (2026), there are plans to explore how more households, particularly those on lower incomes, can benefit from plug-in solar panels. You can read our blog about the Warm Homes Plan here: https://www.yourenergyyourway.co.uk/post/warm-homes-plan-why-waiting-may-cost-homeowners
They’ve earmarked up to £25 million to pilot this approach with local authorities, with the aim of rolling out installations at a neighbourhood level.
The vision is a street-by-street approach, delivering low-cost solar to tens of thousands of households who might otherwise be left out - it's less about individual upgrades, and more about scaling access.
What This Really Means
The technology is there, but the challenge hasn’t just been cost or awareness - it’s been whether people can actually make it work in their homes.
What’s changing now is that these issues are finally being tackled more directly.
Because it’s one thing to make low-carbon tech cheaper or better supported. It’s another thing entirely to make it accessible in the real world - and that’s the shift we’re starting to see.
We’ll also be keeping a close watch on these changes as they develop, so follow our social channels and upcoming newsletters for the latest updates.
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FAQs
Can I charge an EV if I don’t have a driveway?
This is exactly what new government plans are aiming to address. From summer 2026, proposed changes will allow for cross-pavement charging solutions, making it easier to charge an EV from your home even if you park on the street.
Will it become easier to install a heat pump in a flat?
That’s the intention. A consultation in summer 2026 will look at how planning rules can be relaxed, including ways to make heat pump installations more viable in flats and more built-up areas.
Are there plans to make solar more affordable?
Yes. Through the Warm Homes Plan, the government is exploring ways to support lower-income households with solar, including pilot schemes for plug-in solar panels starting this year.
Do these changes apply now?
Not yet. Some changes are expected to begin from summer 2026, while others, like solar pilot schemes, are being explored this year. We’ll have more clarity as consultations and legislation progress.
What should I do if I’m considering an EV, heat pump or solar?
It’s worth starting to understand your options now, even if you’re not planning to make a change immediately. That way, you’ll be in a better position to act as new policies and support schemes come into place.
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