Updated 6 May 2026 — £500 rate confirmed until 31 March 2027
OZEV Grant for Households with On-Street Parking
Get up to £500 towards a cross-pavement charging channel if your home has only on-street parking. Independent UK guide for the no-driveway segment — covering Kerbo Charge, Gul-e, council approval, and the ORCS public charging fallback.
Around 15 million UK households park on-street — this scheme is for you.
Who qualifies for the on-street parking grant?
The OZEV chargepoint grant for households with on-street parking is the right scheme if you live in a UK home that has no private driveway, garage, or allocated parking bay — only the public road outside. Around 15 million UK households fall into this category. Until 2024, this group had effectively no path to home-rate EV charging because cables across pavements created a trip hazard. The cross-pavement scheme solved that, and the grant now subsidises the installation.
You qualify if
- You own or rent your home
- Your home is in the UK
- The home does not have access to private off-street parking — no driveway, no garage with vehicle access, no allocated bay
- You park on the street directly in front of your home (or close to it)
- You own, lease, or have ordered a qualifying electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle
- Your local council permits cross-pavement channel installations (most do)
You do not qualify under this scheme if
- You have a private driveway — even an unused one. Use the renters/flat owners scheme if you rent or own a flat with a driveway
- You park in a private members' car park — that may qualify under a different route
- Your local council has refused approval for cross-pavement channels in your area
- You park on the street but more than 30 metres from your home — cable runs become impractical
Tenants and renters with on-street parking
If you rent and have only on-street parking, you can apply under this scheme. You still need written permission from your landlord because the channel typically requires a wall-fitted charger inside your property boundary, and the channel itself is on the kerbside outside. The freeholder permission requirement that complicates the renters/flat owners scheme is less of an issue here, because no work is done on private freehold land.
Cross-pavement charging: the three approved options
Three solutions cover almost every UK installation. Pick the one that matches your council's preferences — councils tend to standardise on one supplier rather than approving each case individually, so check before quoting.
Gul-e
Cheapest mainstream option. Solid chequerboard plates and brush seals keep the recess free of dirt. Council-approved in 60+ UK boroughs. Cable diameter compatible with all 7 kW domestic chargers. Fitting takes half a day.
Best for: tight budget, councils that have standardised on Gul-e (London, North England).
Kerbo Charge
Premium option with self-closing thermoplastic cable cover that sits flush with the pavement. Approval cost included in headline price. Lifetime warranty on the channel itself. Often the supplier councils recommend for conservation areas where cosmetics matter.
Best for: conservation areas, councils that have standardised on Kerbo (Camden, Brighton, Wandsworth), willing to pay extra for finish.
ORCS public chargepoint (no install)
The On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme funds public-access chargers including lamp-post chargers and bollard-style kerbside units. Slower (typically 3–7 kW) but free to install. You pay per-kWh for actual charging at standard public rates. Useful as a fallback or for residents who don't qualify for cross-pavement.
Best for: renters who can't get landlord/freeholder permission, residents in flats above shops, areas without ground-level parking.
How they compare
| Feature | Gul-e | Kerbo Charge | ORCS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical fitted cost | £499 + VAT | £999 inc. VAT | £0 |
| OZEV grant applies | Yes | Yes | n/a (different scheme) |
| Net cost after £500 grant | ~£100–£150 | ~£500 | £0 |
| Council approval included | Sometimes | Yes | n/a |
| Charging speed | Up to 7 kW | Up to 7 kW | 3–7 kW typically |
| You own the charger | Yes (your own wall unit) | Yes | No (council-owned) |
| Charge at home rate (~7 p/kWh) | Yes (off-peak tariff) | Yes | No (public rates 30–50 p/kWh) |
For most homeowners and long-term renters with confirmed on-street parking outside their home, Gul-e plus an OZEV-approved 7 kW charger on your front wall is the cheapest and fastest path. You end up with home-rate charging (~7 p/kWh on Octopus Intelligent Go vs. 30+ p/kWh public) and the channel pays itself back in around 12 months of normal driving.
How to apply — 6 step process
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Step 1 — Confirm your council allows cross-pavement
Search "[your council name] cross-pavement EV charging" or check your council's EV strategy page. Most London boroughs and major UK cities are now permitting them. If your council hasn't declared a policy, contact your transport or highways department to ask. Some councils require a specific supplier (Gul-e or Kerbo Charge) — get this confirmed in writing before quoting.
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Step 2 — Choose your channel supplier
Match your supplier to your council's preference. If your council has no preference, choose Gul-e for cost or Kerbo Charge for finish quality. Both file council applications on your behalf as part of the service.
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Step 3 — Choose an OZEV-approved charger
The cross-pavement channel only carries the cable. You still need a 7 kW smart charger on your home wall. The same OZEV-approved chargers apply — Pod Point Solo 3, Ohme ePod, BP Pulse Home, etc. Choose based on your energy tariff (Ohme is best for Octopus Intelligent Go). The charger and channel installer are usually different companies; the channel supplier will recommend a partner electrician if you don't have one.
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Step 4 — Submit grant + council application together
Your installer submits both the OZEV grant application and the council Section 50 (or equivalent) Highway Authority licence application. Many channel suppliers handle this end-to-end. Allow 4–10 weeks for council approval; 3–8 weeks for OZEV.
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Step 5 — Installation day
Channel cut and fitted in 2–4 hours by the supplier's team. Wall charger fitted same day or next by an OZEV-accredited electrician. The pavement is reinstated to council-spec finish.
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Step 6 — Grant credited to your invoice
OZEV pays £500 (or 75% of cost, whichever is lower) directly to your installer, who deducts it from your final bill. You only pay the balance.
Total elapsed time: 6–14 weeks from first contact. Council approval is usually the slowest leg — start there.
Getting council approval — what it actually involves
The pavement outside your home is part of the adopted highway, owned by your local highway authority (usually the council). Cutting a channel into it requires their written permission under Section 50 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, or the council's local equivalent procedure. The good news is that most councils have moved to streamlined processes since 2024.
Councils with confirmed cross-pavement schemes (2026)
The following councils have published policies and are actively approving applications. List is not exhaustive — your council may also approve case-by-case.
- London: Camden, Hackney, Wandsworth, Westminster, Lambeth, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Islington, Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent, Haringey
- South East: Brighton & Hove, Reading, Oxford, Cambridge
- South West: Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset
- North West: Manchester, Liverpool, Trafford
- North East: Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield
- Scotland: Edinburgh, Glasgow (various pilot schemes)
- Wales: Cardiff (pilot)
What the council application needs
- Proof of property ownership or tenancy
- Site sketch showing where the channel will run from house wall to kerb
- Specification of the channel product (Gul-e or Kerbo Charge)
- Public liability insurance evidence from the installing contractor
- Acknowledgement that you remain responsible for maintenance
- Application fee — typically £50–£250 (often included in the headline product price)
Common reasons for refusal
- Conservation area objections: Some heritage areas refuse channel cuts on aesthetic grounds. Kerbo Charge with flush finish often satisfies these objections.
- Pavement width below 1.8 m: Most councils require minimum residual pavement width for accessibility (wheelchair / pushchair clearance). If your pavement is narrow, the channel may not be permitted.
- Tree roots: Where street trees prevent excavation, applications may be refused on horticultural grounds.
- Existing utility crossings: Sometimes a route is refused because of underlying gas or water lines. The supplier can usually re-route.
If your application is refused, ask for the reasons in writing. Some refusals can be appealed; others can be resolved by changing supplier or route.
Total cost: what to budget
| Component | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-pavement channel (Gul-e) | £499 | Excl. VAT; council fee may be extra |
| OR cross-pavement channel (Kerbo Charge) | £999 | Inc. VAT and council application |
| OZEV-approved 7 kW wall charger | £500–£900 | Lower-end Pod Point/Easee |
| Wall charger installation | £300–£500 | Half-day install |
| Council application fee (where not included) | £50–£250 | Varies by council |
| Subtotal (Gul-e route) | £1,349–£2,149 | Most common: £1,500–£1,800 |
| Subtotal (Kerbo route) | £1,799–£2,399 | Most common: £2,000 |
| OZEV grant | −£500 | Applied to invoice by installer |
| Net cost (Gul-e) | £849–£1,649 | Most common: £1,000–£1,300 |
| Net cost (Kerbo) | £1,299–£1,899 | Most common: £1,500 |
Compared to the renters/flat owners scheme, on-street parking installations cost ~£300–£500 more because of the channel itself and council fees. The grant is the same — £500 max — so the net cost is higher. The off-peak tariff savings (~£900–£1,100/year for a 12,000-mile EV) still pay it back in 12–18 months.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an EV grant with no driveway?
Yes. The OZEV chargepoint grant for households with on-street parking pays up to £500 (75% of cost) for a cross-pavement charging channel. This applies to homeowners and renters with only on-street parking outside their home.
What is a cross-pavement channel?
A discrete recess set into the pavement that lets you safely pass an EV charging cable from your home to a vehicle parked at the kerb. Gul-e (£499 + VAT fitted) and Kerbo Charge (£999 fitted) are the two leading approved suppliers.
Do I need council approval?
Yes. The pavement is adopted highway managed by your council. They must approve before any work begins. Allow 4–10 weeks. Most major UK cities have streamlined cross-pavement schemes in place.
What if my council refuses approval?
Ask for the reasons in writing. Some refusals can be resolved by changing supplier or route. As a fallback, ORCS-funded public on-street chargepoints (lamp-post chargers, kerbside bollards) are free to install and use — contact your council's transport department.
How is this different from the renters and flat owners grant?
The renters and flat owners grant requires private off-street parking (driveway, allocated bay, garage). The on-street parking scheme is for households with no off-street parking at all. Both pay up to £500. Apply for whichever matches your situation.
Can I leave the cable in the channel when I'm not charging?
No. The channel is for use while actively charging only. The cable must be removed and the channel closed once your vehicle is fully charged. Leaving it open is a council ground for revoking your permission and removing the channel at your cost.
What happens if someone trips on the channel and sues?
You become responsible for maintenance once the channel is installed, but the channel itself is engineered to council-approved trip-hazard standards (lid flush with pavement, brush seal or self-closing). Public liability is typically covered by the supplier's installation warranty for the first 12–24 months. Some homeowner policies include cross-pavement channels as a covered item — check yours.
Does my charger choice change for on-street parking?
No. Any OZEV-approved 7 kW smart charger works. The channel is independent infrastructure. Pair the charger with your preferred energy tariff (Ohme + Octopus Intelligent Go is the most common combination).
Find out which scheme fits your situation
The eligibility checker covers all five OZEV grant schemes — renters, flat owners, on-street parking, landlords, and workplace.
Run the eligibility checker