Electric vehicle charging cable footway channels

An electric vehicle charging cable channel allows owners of electric vehicles to benefit from the use of domestic energy rates to recharge their vehicles where their property does not have private off-street parking or the ability for such parking to be created.

In August 2025 the Council approved the implementation of a trial of charging cable channels for those properties who have a dedicated on-street parking spaces (for example, a disabled person's parking place) but no off-street parking. This trial will run until April 2026 when a decision will be made on whether a wider roll out of the facility will take place.

Applications to be part of the trial are now open and can be made via this website for eligible properties. Before you apply you should need to check your eligibility to become part of this trial and agree to the Terms and Conditions of your application.

You can read about how we process an application for such a facility, and the steps we take after your application and the associated fees below.

Eligibility for a charging cable channel

Your eligibility to be part of the trial for charging cable channels will be assessed based on the following criteria. Only those properties meeting all the listed criteria will be taken forward for further assessment prior to a unit being provided. Your property should:

• have no off-street parking facility (or the ability for an off-street parking place to be constructed in the garden).
• have a dedicated on-street parking bay (for example, a disabled person's parking place) with sufficient space for one vehicle immediately outside
• a dedicated EV charge point, correctly rated, installed on the exterior of the property by a competent electrician evidenced by copies of the installation certificate.
• provided evidence that the charge point is covered by your current building insurance policy.
• have a clear route between your charging box and the parking space which is does not have any obstructions such as boundary walls, trees, street lighting columns or utility service box covers.

Properties which are part of the trial will also be required to complete a questionnaire following completion of the installation of the channel unit and at the end of the trial period feeding back on their experience of the service provided.

Finally, when making your application you will need to:

• Confirm that your property meets the eligibility criteria set out above.
• Agree to our terms and conditions
• Agree to the payment of the non-refundable inspection fee.

Payments and costs

The following fees are payable for the installation of a charging cable channel:

• A non-refundable application assessment fee of £95 must be paid at the time of your application. As this fee is non-refundable you should ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria set out above before proceeding with your application.
• The installation cost of the channel unit which will be based on an assessment of the proposed location at your property. The minimum installation charge is currently £900+VAT. This cost is inclusive of the first years’ Licence cost. This fee should be paid within 28 days of the quotation being provided by the Council.

Following the first anniversary of the installation of the channel unit an annual license fee of £50 must be paid for the license to use the charging cable channel. This fee covers both the license to retain the facility in the highway.

Grants and other support

Local resident EV users whose application is accepted can claim a grant of £350 or 75% (whichever is less) towards the cost of installation of a chargepoint. Further guidance on applying for this EV Grant is available on the GOV.UK website at Electric vehicle chargepoint grant for households with on street parking.

Applying for a charging cable footway channel

If you wish to apply for a channel for your property, you should make an application using the button below.

Apply now for a charging cable channel (Word document)

Make sure you have the following ready to use with your application:

• Written consent from the property owner, if you are not the owner, to make the application.
• A sketch of the location of your EV charge point, the proposed cable route in your garden and details of the start and end point of the channel in the footway outside your property. An example sketch is shown below.
• An unobstructed photograph of your street showing your dedicated parking space, the frontage of your property and ideally the charge point location in the same picture.

You cannot assume permission will be given. If you have not heard back from us within 20 working days of submitting your application, please contact us to check the status of your application at [email protected].

How we process electric vehicle charging cable footway channel applications

Applications submitted via this website will be assessed following payment of the inspection fee by a member of the Council’s Network Resilience and Management Team. This assessment will involve a site visit to confirm the location of the EV Charge point and the proposed channel location. You do not need to be present during this site visit. Based on the findings of this survey you will be advised whether your application has been approved or rejected for further consideration.

Approved applications will proceed to the quotation stage. At this stage the Council’s Highways Contractor will vary out a detailed site survey which will be used to provide a bespoke quotation for your property. You may be asked to be present for this inspection if the survey cannot be completed from the street. The quotation will be affected by factors such as:

• The width of the pavement outside your property.
• The materials used in the construction of the pavement (for example, tarmac or flagging).
• Any special considerations to avoid other service utilities in the footway.

Following the survey, you will receive a detailed quotation from the Council’s Highways Contractor for the installation cost which is inclusive of all costs (including the first year's licence cost). Quotations are valid for 28 days from the date of issue. If you are happy to proceed with the installation of the channel you should make payment of the installation cost within this 28 day period.

Installation of the channel will be carried out by the Highway Delivery Unit upon payment of the quoted installation fee. You will be told the anticipated date of installation for your channel following receipt of this fee and granting of the necessary Road and Street Works permit. If any works require access into your curtilage to complete the channel install you may be asked to be present during the works.

Prior to the installation date for your channel, you should complete the Resident Licence Agreement and hand this to the Council’s team on the installation date.

Once the channel is installed you should avoid using it for the first 24 hours to allow the bedding material to set.

Maintenance of the channel

Your annual license fee covers the costs of repairs to the charging channel up to and including its full replacement with a new unit during the following 12 months.

You will be responsible for the weekly maintenance of the channel to keep it free from the build up of debris in the channel itself by sweeping it.

If you notice any damage to your channel either during its use or cleaning you should immediately notify the Council of the damage via the [email protected] email address.

Removal of the channel or change of licensee

The Residential License Agreement to have and use an EV charging cable channel is specific to both the property and the license holder. As part of the license conditions the licensee is required to advise the Council of any change of ownership of the property (or change of tenant) when it occurs. Upon notification of a change of owner or tenant the Council will cancel the Resident License Agreement and will repay the proportion of the license fee applicable.

The new owner or tenant of the property will be required to apply for a new Resident License Agreement within 3 months of moving into the property and pay the £50 annual license fee charge. Where no such application has been received, the Council reserve the right to remove the charging cable channel and reinstate the footway to its original condition.

The Council similarly reserves the right to remove the charging cable channel where the annual license fee has not been paid on the anniversary of its issue.

Terms and conditions

The following terms and conditions are applicable to electric vehicle charging cable channel applications:

Initial application

1. Your application will not be processed without the payment of the application fee.
   1. The application fee is £95. You must pay for your application within 14 days of submission.
   2. Applications will not be assessed without payment, after 14 days the application will be deleted from the Council’s system without any action been taken.
   3. The Council will carry out an initial site survey to confirm the details of your application. If your property does not meet the assessment criteria for approval your application will be refused. You will be notified of this decision within 21 days of your application fee payment.

Right of appeal

2. You have the right of appeal against the decision of the Council not to approve your application within 10 days of being notified of the Council’s decision. Appeals should be submitted in writing to the Highways Services Manager, Planning, Transportation & Highways Service, 4^th Floor, Britannia House, Hall Ings, Bradford, BD1 1HX.
3. Appeals will not be considered where the reason for refusal includes:
   1. Installation of the charging channel would adversely affect your neighbours,
   2. Where the presence of trees or tree roots would interfere with the proposed channel location and the Council have advised you that there is not arboricultural reason to remove the tree,
   3. Where the channel would have disbenefits to pedestrians use of the footway (for example, where it would be installed near a dropped crossing).
4. Decisions on all appeals will be issued within 20 days of receipt and decisions are final. No further appeals will be considered.

Installation of the channel

5. If your initial application is approved the Council’s Highway Delivery Unit will advise of the estimated cost of the installation of a suitable channel unit at your property. This quote will remain valid for 28 days from date of issue. Upon payment of the installation fee the works will be carried out by the Highway Delivery Unit who will arrange for the necessary Road and Street Works permit to be obtained and advise you of the installation date once received.
6. Where necessary, and agreed with you, you authorise the Council to extend the channel onto the footpath of your property, and in doing so to make any alterations to the footpath and/or steps on your property, and you indemnify the Council against any claim in respect of injury, damage, loss or third-party claim for the alteration work completed on your property that are necessary to complete the channel installation.
7. Prior to commencement of the installation works you will be required to sign a Resident Licence Agreement for Cross-Pavement Home EV Charging Channel and provide this to the Council’s contractor prior to the installation date.
8. You should not use the channel for the first 24-hours after its installation to allow for the setting of the channel foundation. Where damage occurs within this initial window the full cost of repairs will be borne by the licensee.

Annual licence

9. Payment of the £50 annual licence fee must be made annually on the anniversary of the date of completion of the installation works. Failure to renew the license may lead to the Council removing the facility and reinstating the footway to its original condition.

Maintenance and repair

10. The Licensee must regularly inspect the channel to:
    1. Ensure that it remains in good working order and that the lid is correctly in the closed position, reporting it to the Council if it is not.
    2. Remove any leaves, stones and other debris that may have built up in the bottom of the channel.
11. The Licensee shall indemnify the Council and channel against any claim in respect of injury, damage, loss or third party claim with the respect to the channel or its use unless the claim is directly attributable to a failure of the channel product or its installation.
12. The Licensee agreed to take out EV charging cable trip insurance (either via their home or car insurance provider) to cover the costs of any accidents or dame caused by the Licensee’s charging cable.
13. Upon completion of the installation, the channel will be maintainable by the Council.
14. Licensees must advise the Council of any damage to the channel immediately where they become of aware of it.