Call for evidence outcome

Solar on car parks and electric vehicle charging

From:
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Office for Zero Emission Vehicles
Published
7 May 2025
Last updated
2621 NovemberMay 20252026 — See all updates

Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales

This call for evidence has closed

Read the full outcome

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Detail of outcome

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Call for evidence Section 2: electricElectric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and planning (26 November 2025)

The vast majority of respondents supported the principle of simplifying the process of installing EV chargepoints. Furthermore, the responses have shown that there is broad support for further PDRs for EV charging and better training and guidance for both industry and local authority officers.

The government will take forward a series of consultations and policy development. See the section 2 response for details.

Original call for evidence

Summary

We're seeking views on a proposal to mandate the installation of solar canopies on new outdoor car parks, subject to certain exemptions, as well as views around current planning policy relating to EV charging infrastructure.

This call for evidence ran from
to

Call for evidence description

The government welcomes input and detailed evidence from stakeholders to better understand the potential for solar canopy installation on new outdoor car parks, as well as concerns or views they may have around existing planning policy and Permitted Development Rights (PDRs) in relation to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This includes links to solar canopies and energy storage systems.

Section 1: solar canopies

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is seeking evidence and feedback on a proposal to mandate the introduction of solar canopies on new outdoor car parks and explore opportunities for deployment on existing car parks, above a certain size; this includes car parks in both public and private ownership. We are considering, subject to this call for evidence, whether multi-storey car parks and residential car parks should be in scope. We also welcome evidence and feedback on other ways that government action could increase the deployment of solar canopies on outdoor car parks and views on what further changes can be made to the planning and permitting regime when installing electric vehicle charge points.

Section 2: electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and planning

This section focuses on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, planning and the UK’s wider energy security and net-zero commitments. As transport remains the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gases, decarbonising road transport through EV adoption is critical, requiring a substantial expansion of EV charging infrastructure.  

The Clean Power Action Plan outlines the importance of adopting clean power technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs) to support the transition away from the use of fossil fuels. From 2030 onwards, further emissions reductions from clean power will come indirectly through displacing fossil fuel use in other sectors, such as transport. As with solar energy, the charging infrastructure for EVs needs to be deployed rapidly and at scale.  

Read our consultation privacy notice.

Documents

Solar on car parks and electric vehicle charging: call for evidence

PDF, 521 KB, 39 pages

Solar on car parks and electric vehicle charging: call for evidence

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Updates to this page

Published 7 May 2025
Last updated 2621 NovemberMay 20252026 + show all updates

  1. The solar canopies on carparks policy (call for evidence Section 1) will not be taken further at this point.

  2. Government response to section 2 of the call for evidence published.

  3. First published.

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