With planning laws now more relaxed around on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging, how is the Tees Valley faring in its rollout? The answer depends largely on which side of a council boundary you live.
Five councils are pursuing five different approaches to pavement charging despite a £479,000 regional funding allocation aimed at helping residents without driveways charge EVs at home.
Electric revolution
In April 2026, the government allocated £479,000 to the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) through the Electric Vehicle Pavement Channels Grant Fund (EVPCGF). It just rolls off the tongue doesn’t it?
The funding was specifically designed to help residents without driveways, particularly those living in terraced housing, access home charging through cross-pavement charging channels, often referred to as charging gullies. Seen below.
Level playing field
The scheme follows national changes intended to make it easier for councils to adopt pavement channel solutions. This will give residents the chance to access cheaper domestic electricity tariffs rather than relying solely on public charging infrastructure.
For many households, this is incredibly important. An estimated 9.3 million UK homes do not have access to off-street parking, making convenient and affordable charging one of the biggest barriers to EV ownership.
Lack of leadership
However, while the funding was allocated at a regional level, the TVCA has left implementation decisions to individual local authorities. As a result, a patchwork of policies has emerged across Teesside and Darlington. I’ve laid it out in the table below.
| BOROUGH | PAVEMENT CHANNEL STATUS | FUNDING/SUPPORT AVAILABLE |
| Hartlepool | Active and Approved | £500 council grant towards installation |
| Stockton-on-Tees | Under Review | Expanding rapid central charging over pavement charging gulleys |
| Darlington | Prohibited | Alternative on street Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure LEVI hubs only |
| Middlesbrough | Case-by-Case Assessment | Focussed on council car park charging hubs |
| Redcar & Cleveland | Strategic Planning Phase | Included in wider rollout map |
The differing approaches mean access to affordable EV charging is increasingly becoming a postcode lottery.
Hartlepool leads the way
Hartlepool is currently leading the way, allowing residents to install charging gullies and offering grants towards installation costs. For households able to access an EV-specific domestic tariff, charging costs can fall to around 8p per kWh during off-peak periods.
No go Darlo
At the other end of the spectrum, Darlington Borough Council does not currently permit cross-pavement charging infrastructure. Residents without driveways must instead rely on public charging facilities or council charging hubs. Depending on the charger used, costs can be around 50p per kWh or higher, with some locations also requiring parking fees.
An expensive business
The financial difference is significant. A driver charging a typical 60kWh battery could pay less than £5 when charging at home on an off-peak tariff but around £30 using a public charger charging 50p per kWh. Over the course of a year, that gap can amount to hundreds of pounds.
Disincentive
The issue is not simply about cost. Residents who rely on public charging must also factor in travel time, charger availability and the inconvenience of moving vehicles once charging is complete. Research published in 2026 found that access to home charging remains one of the strongest factors influencing EV ownership and uptake.
Under review
When local resident Josh Spears raised the issue with Darlington Borough Council, a spokesperson responded:
“Our current policy is that we do not allow cross pavement charging infrastructure, though we do continue to keep this position under review as more evidence becomes available on the pros and cons of this type of equipment.”
Missed opportunity
This is an issue on which the TVCA should be providing leadership and guidance. Despite the authority receiving its EV grant in April, the matter wasn’t discussed at the quarterly TVCA Transport Committee meeting on 2 June. All five constituent authorities of the TVCA are represented at this meeting.
More guidance needed
The council’s position reflects concerns raised by authorities across the country. Common objections include pedestrian safety, accessibility for wheelchair users and visually impaired residents, maintenance liabilities and the cumulative impact of multiple installations on public footways. More than 20 councils nationally are reported to have adopted restrictive approaches despite changes in government policy. Government guidance hasn’t been updated since December 2024; it needs to be revisited.
Trip hazards
Supporters of pavement channels argue that these concerns can be managed through approved designs and licensing schemes. Manufacturers and charging providers point out that purpose-built channels eliminate the trip hazards associated with cables laid across pavements while allowing residents to access cheaper domestic electricity.
Confusion and delay
The wider question is whether the TVCA should have adopted a single regional approach. The government awarded funding to the Combined Authority with the objective of accelerating rollout and increasing EV uptake among residents without driveways. Yet the decision to leave implementation to individual councils means residents currently face five different policies depending on where they live.
Driveway discrimination
Nationally, ministers have repeatedly argued that residents without driveways should not face what some in the EV industry have called “driveway discrimination”, a situation where households with private parking enjoy access to cheap home charging while those living in terraced streets are forced onto more expensive public networks.
For now, the TVCA appears to be creating its own version of that divide.
It’s a lottery
As the government continues to invest millions into expanding EV infrastructure and encouraging the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles, the question facing local leaders is whether access to affordable charging should depend on a resident’s postcode.
Because at present, where you live in the Tees Valley may determine not only how convenient it is to own an electric vehicle, but also how much it costs to run one.
TVCA silence
Despite being asked whether it supports equal access to domestic-rate EV charging across the Tees Valley, how the £479,000 funding allocation is being distributed, and whether differing council policies risk creating inequalities for residents without driveways, TVCA had not responded by the time of publication. The absence of a response leaves unanswered questions about regional oversight, accountability and the long-term impact of the funding on EV charging access across the area.
Thank you to Ray Casey for contributing to this article.
