Electric vehicle (EV) cable channel

Before starting your application, please read this guidance to ensure eligibility and have everything you need to apply. 

If you are eligible to have an EV cable channel installed, you must be granted a cable channel licence from Oxfordshire County Council. The licence gives you consent to use the EV cable channel to run the private EV charging cable through the public highway.  

The application process has 7 stages, with more details provided about each one further down this page: 

• Step one - Eligibility check
• Step two – Online application form
• Step three – Site visit and conditional approval
• Step four – Planning permission and insurance
• Step five – Evidence permissions and make payment
• Step six – Cable channel installation and licencing
• Step seven – Home EV charger installation

After this is all completed you can enjoy all the benefits of charging your EV outside your home from your own home energy supply. 

Here are each of the key steps in more detail

Step one - Check you are eligible

To be eligible to apply for an EV cable channel, you must: 

• be the property owner or have permission from the property owner to install an EV charger at the property
• live at the property
• not have access to off-street parking
• be able to park legally on the road directly outside your property with only a footway separating your property from the road (carriageway).  You can check whether a site is part of the public highway on the Map of streets we maintain or request a more detailed Highway search
• agree to indemnify the council against any claims relating to your use of the EV cable channel for EV charging and obtain appropriate Public Liability Insurance to cover this liability (minimum £5 million for any one claim), usually through your car and/or home insurance.
• have confirmation from a registered electrician that you can have a suitable external EV charging point installed at the property at ground level, ensuring that all equipment involved meets the minimum safety standard requirements of the government guidance on EV chargepoint and infrastructure specifications and in particular the chargepoint specification for households with on-street parking.
• ensure that the home EV charger when installed does not overhang the footway
• use the channel with an EV charger that is 7.5kW or lower
• use an EV charging cable that is 16mm in diameter or less to ensure it fits safely into the channel 

We cannot accept applications for EV cable channels at sites where; 

• there is a parking restriction (i.e. double or single yellow lines, bus stops, taxi ranks, zig-zag lines etc.)
• parking would not be safe or compliant with the Highway Code (i.e. opposite or within 15m of a junction unless in a marked parking bay, poor visibility).
• there is any electrical street furniture, or another resident using an EV cable channel, which could be within 2.5m or your charging vehicle. This may mean that neighbouring properties cannot each have an EV cable channel installed.
• there is a highway verge. We are investigating whether this could be changed in the future.
• there is any obstruction on the footway where you would like an EV cable channel to be installed. This may include items such as a pedestrian barriers, trees, or cycle parking.
• the surface of the pavement (footway) is less than 70mm higher than the surface of the road (carriageway). This is to ensure that water drains away from the channel. 

Step two – Complete the survey form

Submit details about your property and parking situation so that we can assess whether you are eligible for an EV cable channel.  As part of the form, you must upload an unobstructed photo of the footway outside your property, and one showing where you plan to install your charger. The photos should be taken from the opposite side of the road, looking back at your property (but only if it is safe to do so). 

Step three - Site visit and conditional approval

We will conduct a site visit to check whether your site is suitable and send you confirmation within 8 weeks. If your site is approved, we will issue you with conditional approval for an EV cable gully, pending you securing planning permission for your home EV charger, and obtaining the appropriate insurance cover. 

Step four – Securing planning permission and insurance

When you have conditional approval from us for an EV cable channel, you can apply for planning permission and arrange the appropriate insurance.  The EV cable channel does not require planning permission, however you must seek planning permission from your Local Planning Authority (i.e. your District Council) for the home EV charger as it will not be permitted development if you don't have off-street parking.  We cannot do these things for you, but we have produced a guidance document to help you with the planning process.  You can also visit the planning portal for more detail on planning permission for home EV charging points. 

Step five - Evidencing permissions and making payment

Come back to our website to provide us with evidence of your planning permission and insurance and then make your payment for the EV cable channel via our website. 

Step six – Cable channel installation and licensing

We will arrange for the installation of the EV cable channel and issue you with your licence. This licence will last for two years, and you will need to pay for the renewal annually after that. The licence comes with standard terms and conditions , including, but not limited to, responsibility, use, maintenance, and liability for the EV cable channel. 

Every 12 months (including during your initial 2-year licence period), you must provide evidence to the council of; 

• An appropriate policy of public liability insurance
• A satisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) on your home EV charger from a registered electrician 

Step seven – Home EV charger installation

You must install your compliant home EV charger and send us a copy of the Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) from your installer within six weeks of being issued your licence. After we receive this, you can start using your EV cable channel to charge your EV at home! 

If you fail to do so, your licence will be suspended, and your EV cable channel may be disabled. 

If you have read and understood all of this information, and have all the relevant information and site photos you need to hand, you can complete the application form to request a site survey.