England expands street works permits to include EV CPOs

A small wording change in traffic law is about to shape how quickly charge points appear on your street. From 10 April 2026, new regulations take effect in England so electric vehicle charge point operators are brought squarely into the street works permit system. If you work in highways, utilities, or you’re studying public policy, this is a neat case study in how definitions drive real‑world delivery.

This update arrives via a Statutory Instrument (that means it’s law made under powers Parliament has already granted). It was signed on 16 March 2026 by Simon Lightwood, a transport minister, laid before Parliament on 19 March 2026, and it applies to England only. The legal hook is section 37(1) of the Traffic Management Act 2004, which allows ministers to set detailed rules for permit schemes run by local authorities.

The headline legal tweak is in the glossary. The 2007 permit regulations stop using the term “statutory undertaker” and instead use “undertaker”. An “undertaker” now means either someone with a statutory right to carry out street works or someone with a street works permit to carry out the specific EV‑related works described in the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. The definition of “street works permit” is also confirmed by reference to the 1991 Act’s wording.

Why this matters for EV rollout: in 2025, Parliament changed primary legislation so charge point operators could use permits rather than the older section 50 street works licence route. Today’s amendment follows through on that policy by ensuring the 2007 permit regulations-and their enforcement tools-apply to EV operators as they do to traditional utilities. In short, the same playbook now covers everyone digging in the highway for these works.

If you are new to this area, a permit is permission from the street authority to carry out works at a set time, place and manner, often with conditions. Councils can sequence activity, protect “traffic‑sensitive” times, and require reinstatement standards. Moving EV charger installations into this system should help co‑ordinate works with bus corridors, school streets, and peak travel windows, reducing avoidable disruption.

For local authorities, the practical step is language and enforcement alignment. Where the 2007 rules previously referred to a “statutory undertaker”, they now read “undertaker”, capturing EV charge point operators under the same compliance regime. That includes how variations are handled, how breaches are addressed, and how permit conditions bite. Scheme documents, staff training notes and standard letters will need light edits so the wording matches the updated law.

For charge point operators, the message is clear: from 10 April, you operate within the permit framework in England. Build time into programmes for permit lead‑in, conditions about working hours on traffic‑sensitive streets, and coordination with other works. Keep records of reinstatement, signage and safety measures so, if queried, you can evidence compliance with the permit that was granted.

For existing utilities and contractors, this levels expectations. The same scheduling discipline, noticing discipline and standards now apply to EV charger works-useful when you’re sharing a trench or trying to finish before a weekend event. It should also make it easier for councils to compare performance fairly across different types of undertaker.

For residents and road users, this is not a green light to dig at will. Permits can still be refused or conditioned to protect safety and keep traffic moving. But bringing EV charger works into a single, known system should mean fewer last‑minute surprises and better communication about where and when works happen.

If you want to read the primary source, look for The Traffic Management Permit Scheme (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/312) on legislation.gov.uk. The Explanatory Memorandum includes an excerpt of the earlier impact assessment prepared when Parliament agreed the EV charge point measures in 2025. That paper is a useful companion if you are teaching how secondary legislation turns headline policy into day‑to‑day practice.