Dominic Browne 22 November 2023

Autumn Statement: Planning system to prioritise EV charging

Autumn Statement: Planning system to prioritise EV charging image
Image: wellphoto / Shutterstock.com.

The Autumn Statement gave a major boost to the electric vehicle (EV) market with £2bn of investment and a pledge to reform the planning system to prioritise the roll-out of charge points.

The Treasury confirmed plans to amend the National Planning Policy Framework 'to ensure the planning system prioritises the roll-out of EV chargepoints, including EV charging hubs'.

Speaking in the House of Commons, chancellor Jeremy Hunt also pledged £4.5bn from 2025 for five years for 'strategic manufacturing' sectors including zero emission vehicles.

Out of this total, £2bn is being made available for the automotive sector 'to support the manufacturing and development of zero emission vehicles, their batteries and supply chain'.

The aerospace sector will receive £975m to support the development of energy efficient and zero-carbon aircraft technology and £960m is allocated to green industries to support strong clean energy manufacturing capacity. The remaining £520m is for life sciences

Treasury officials said: 'The government is creating more certainty for investors in low-carbon infrastructure by extending the critical national priority designation for nationally significant low-carbon energy projects. Alongside this, the government will look to remove unnecessary planning constraints by accelerating the expansion of EV charging infrastructure.'

Officials added that together with existing manufacturing support and decarbonisation plans, the new funding streams for strategic manufacturing 'will level up communities across the country with higher-paid jobs, improve the UK’s energy security, and help grow the sectors of the future'.

Making payment processes smarter  image

Making payment processes smarter

It can be challenging to find the right software to streamline payment processes. Lewis McKenna-Crisp argues SmarterPay has the ideal solution for councils.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Director of Public Health

Royal Borough of Greenwich
Up to £131,210
The Public Health department is at the heart of the council’s business. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Head of Regeneration and Growth

Plymouth City Council
£68,387 - £74,411 (MFS and relocation available, pay award pending)
This is a unique opportunity to lead our award-winning development team and directly deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of projects. Plymouth, Devon
Recuriter: Plymouth City Council

Director of Adult Social Care

Wiltshire Council
£119,390 - £127,137
Join us as the Director of Adult Social Care and make a real difference to people’s lives. Wiltshire
Recuriter: Wiltshire Council

Assistant Director Planning, Performance & Engagement

East Sussex County Council
up to £97,700
With strong local communities, unspoilt countryside and vibrant coastal towns, East Sussex offers an exceptional quality of life to many. East Sussex
Recuriter: East Sussex County Council

Director of Finance & Commerce

Lancashire County Council
Up to £114,339
You will play a critical role in driving the organisation through complex change and innovation. Lancashire
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council
Linkedin Banner