The Welsh government has launched an open consultation on electric vehicle (EV) charging in residential and non-residential buildings in Wales.
Launched on 6 September 2024, the consultation seeks views on draft amendments to Part S of the Building Regulations in Wales, which considers infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles. As the document iterates, the amendments will “mandate the provision of electric vehicle changepoints in new residential, non-residential buildings, and buildings undergoing major renovations, or material change in use, which have associated car parking.”
It follows the government’s goal for a “net zero economy by 20250”, of which zero emission vehicles play a major role. Current research suggests that the current lack of sufficient chargepoints in Wales is a “key reason” preventing EV purchases.
“Increasing access to and availability of chargepoints is therefore key to encouraging people to make the switch.”
The proposed policy position will see every new residential building with an associated car parking space that is within a site boundary to have a chargepoint. It will also apply to those buildings undergoing a “material change of use to create a dwelling”.
Every residential building undergoing renovation with more than 10 car parking spaces will be required to have EV chargepoints fitted in “every car parking space”. New non-residential buildings with more than 10 car parking spaces and non-residential buildings undergoing a major renovation or material change of use with more than 10 parking spaces will be expected to have one chargepoint and “cable routes for an electric vehicle chargepoint for one in five spaces”. Currently, there are no proposals in place for existing non-residential buildings not undergoing a major renovation or material change in use.
“The requirements we are proposing also apply to car parking spaces in or adjacent to buildings.”
As the government states, the change to the Building Regulations will ensure a more “standardised approach to EV charging equipment in new buildings across Wales, helping to provide consistency”. As such, developers will be required to follow the building control process to demonstrate they have complied with the regulatory change.
The consultation will run until 29 November 2024, and the government will review the responses before issuing a formal response. The regulation change is expected in 2025, and the draft Approved Document S can be found here.
To find out more about the consultation process, or take part, visit to government website here.