EV Chargers & Your Build Project: What Developers Need to Know
- morganisedltd
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
As electric vehicles become a common sight across the UK, EV charging infrastructure has shifted from a desirable feature to a core requirement for new homes, commercial sites, and redevelopment projects. For developers, architects, and builders, understanding how EV chargers impact utilities and design is now essential for a successful project.
This guide breaks down the key regulations, electrical considerations, and future-proofing strategies you need to know for 2026. We will explain how early planning can save significant time, money, and disruption, ensuring your project meets both regulatory standards and market expectations.
Why EV Chargers Matter for New Build Projects
Integrating EV charging is no longer just about staying ahead of the curve; it's a fundamental part of modern construction. Two main factors are driving this change: growing consumer demand and increasing regulatory pressure.
Buyers and tenants increasingly expect EV charging as a standard feature. Installing chargers, or at least making spaces “EV-ready,” can significantly increase the appeal and value of new properties. Furthermore, the UK’s commitment to low-carbon transport means that law now mandates EV infrastructure. Developers must follow the latest Building Regulations, particularly Approved Document Part S, which sets out the national requirements for EV charge points.
Part S Regulations: What You Must Provide in 2026
Approved Document Part S of the Building Regulations makes the inclusion of EV charging infrastructure mandatory for most new build and major renovation projects. Here’s a clear breakdown of what is required.
1. New Residential Developments
For any new home built with associated on-plot parking (like a driveway or garage), the regulations require:
One active EV charge point for each dwelling.
If a charge point cannot be installed for a valid reason, ducting infrastructure must be installed as a minimum to allow for easy future installation.
For new residential buildings without individual on-plot parking, such as blocks of flats with a shared car park, the rules are slightly different:
Every parking space associated with the building must be made ‘EV-ready’ by installing the necessary cabling and containment back to the electrical intake.
2. New Non-Residential Developments
For new commercial or public buildings with more than 10 parking spaces, the requirements are:
At least one active EV charge point must be installed.
Cable routes must be installed for a minimum of 20% of the remaining spaces to make them EV-ready.
3. Major Renovation Projects
These regulations also apply to buildings undergoing major renovation. If the renovation project includes more than 10 parking spaces, the same rules as for new non-residential developments apply.
What Does "EV-Ready" Really Mean?
The term "EV-ready" means that the foundational work for a future charger installation has been completed. This includes:
Installing ducting or cabling from the electrical room to each designated parking space.
Ensuring the building's electrical design has enough load capacity to handle future chargers.
Making the connection point easily accessible for a straightforward charger installation later.
Planning for this from the start is crucial, as adding EV chargers retrospectively is far more expensive and disruptive than integrating them into the initial build.
How EV Chargers Impact Your Project's Utility Design
Installing EV chargers has a direct effect on your project's electrical connection design and load calculations. Factoring this in early helps prevent application delays, costly redesigns, and unexpected network upgrade charges from the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) or Independent DNO (iDNO).
1. Increased Electrical Load
A standard 7kW home charger or a 22kW fast charger adds a significant amount to a site's overall electrical demand. The more chargers you need, the larger the supply size required. This can influence several key design elements, including:
Whether a single-phase or three-phase supply is needed for the site.
Whether the local DNO or iDNO infrastructure requires reinforcement to support the new load.
The location, size, and number of any required substations, pillars, or electrical kiosks.
2. Individual vs. Shared Charging
You have two main approaches for multi-unit developments:
Individual Chargers: Providing one charger per dwelling offers high convenience for residents but results in a higher cumulative load on the development’s electrical supply.
Shared Chargers: In apartment blocks or commercial sites, a bank of shared chargers can be a practical solution. This approach can lower the overall load through managed usage and is ideal for sites with limited space or high-density layouts.
3. Application Timelines
EV charging requirements must be included in your utility applications from day one. This information is needed for:
Load assessments submitted to the network operator.
Formal applications for a new or upgraded electricity connection.
The design of the on-site electrical distribution network.
Leaving EV charging out of your initial plans almost always leads to delays and increased costs when it is added later.
Types of EV Charging Solutions to Consider
Home Chargers (7kW AC): The most common solution for residential properties. They require a dedicated circuit and must comply with smart charging regulations.
Fast Chargers (22kW AC): These require a three-phase supply and are suitable for commercial premises, shared residential car parks, or workplaces.
Rapid Chargers (50kW+ DC): With their high load and cost, these are rarely used in residential projects. They are more common at service stations, retail parks, and fleet depots.
Smart Charging and Load Management
Smart charging is a legal requirement for most new domestic EV charger installations in the UK. It allows chargers to automatically adjust their charging schedule to use off-peak electricity, which helps balance demand on the national grid.
For multi-unit sites, you can implement more advanced strategies to manage the electrical load, such as:
Dynamic Load Balancing: This technology constantly monitors the building's total electricity usage and adjusts the power going to the EV chargers in real-time. This prevents the main fuse from tripping and can help avoid the need for an expensive supply upgrade.
Load Sharing Systems: Multiple chargers are linked together and share a single circuit, distributing available power between them.
Phased Charging Strategies: This allows a property manager to schedule when groups of chargers are active, preventing all cars from charging simultaneously during peak hours.
These tools reduce the strain on your incoming supply and are key to delivering a cost-effective and efficient charging solution for larger developments.
Future-Proofing Your Development
The transition to electric vehicles is only accelerating. Future-proofing your site now will protect your investment from expensive retrofit works down the line.
Install Additional Ducting: Even if you are not installing chargers in every space immediately, putting extra ducting in the ground is an inexpensive way to prepare. It prevents the need for major excavation and disruption later.
Consider Battery Storage: On-site battery storage systems can store cheap, off-peak electricity or excess solar energy to power EV chargers during peak times. This reduces reliance on the grid and can help avoid large DNO upgrade costs.
Integrate Solar and EV: Combining solar panels with EV chargers offers residents long-term energy savings and helps your development meet sustainability goals.
Plan Early to Keep Costs Down
Thinking about EV chargers early in the project makes a real difference—both to your timeline and your budget. Getting your plans in place from the start helps you avoid costly redesigns, last-minute changes, and major rewiring or trenching after the fact. Simply put, it’s far cheaper and easier to get things right the first time.
EV charging infrastructure isn’t just a box-ticking exercise anymore. With regulations tightening and buyer expectations rising, getting the details sorted now means your properties will be ready for the market and future demand. If you’re not 100% sure what your site needs or are feeling overwhelmed by all the regulations and applications, it’s well worth having an expert on your side.
What Costs Should Developers Expect?
Budgeting for EV charger installation involves more than just the hardware. You’ll need to think about:
The EV charger units themselves
Ducting, cabling, and any extra distribution equipment
Civil works—like digging trenches and making good after
Load assessments and an updated utility design
Any upgrades needed from the DNO or iDNO for more capacity
Installation and testing to make sure it’s all set up safely
Planning ahead almost always means lower overall costs, and you’re much less likely to be hit with surprises as the build progresses.
How Morganised Multi-Utility Can Support You
We know how complicated utility planning can get, especially when EV charging needs to be factored in with everything else. That’s why our team is here to take the pressure off from the first site review right through to coordinating with the network operators and making sure everything is installed correctly.
Review your development plans and EV charging requirements
Handle all the necessary utility applications, saving you admin time
Coordinate with DNOs, iDNOs, and installers to keep the process moving
Provide practical, up-to-date designs for your EV infrastructure
Source the right installation partners (if you need them)
Troubleshoot delays and sort out any issues before they affect your schedule or budget
Whether your project is just a handful of units or something much larger, we’re here to help you avoid last-minute costs and deliver sites that are truly future-ready.
If you’re working on a new build or a major refurbishment and want straightforward advice on your EV charging options, feel free to reach out. We’re happy to look over your plans and guide you through every step, ensuring your project stays on track and meets all current standards.
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