04 June 2025
Summary
The UK’s new-build housing sector is rapidly adapting to the surge in electric vehicle (EV) ownership. All new homes with off-street parking must now include EV charging infrastructure, driven by recent building regulations and net-zero targets. In England, Part S of the Building Regulations (effective June 2022) mandates one EV chargepoint per dwelling in all new-build For example, a semi-detached or terraced house (each considered a separate “building” in Part S) requires its own dedicated charger. If a development has more than 10 parking spaces, additional cable routes for future EV chargers must be. Similar rules apply in Scotland, where new residential buildings must have at least one 7kW-capable chargepoint per home. These regulations ensure future-proofed infrastructure - allowing easy installation of EV chargers now or later, and meeting homebuyer expectations for EV-readiness.
Part S (England) and parallel regulations across the UK set the baseline for EV-ready homes. Key requirements include:
By meeting these rules, housebuilders comply with government mandates and make their developments more attractive. According to the Future Homes Hub, building in EV infrastructure “makes new housing more appealing to consumers who may want to save money and the environment by owning an electric vehicle”. Indeed, research shows that EV-ready homes sell at a premium to eco-minded buyers.
Another major trend is smart EV charging, driven by grid and consumer benefits. The UK already requires that nearly all new home and workplace EV chargers sold (from 30 June 2022) have smart functionality. These smart chargers such as the waEV-charge EV1i automatically shift charging to times of low demand or high renewable output, reducing strain on the grid and cutting energy bills. For example, regulations stipulate that a smart charger should only charge when electricity demand is lower or more renewable generation is available.
Housebuilders should prioritize chargers with these smart features. waEV-charge’s home chargers, for instance, include integrated smart software (via ev.energy) that optimises charging around tariffs and solar production without user intervention. This aligns with Government strategy - smart EV chargers like waEV-charge will help “save money on energy bills and reduce the need for costly network reinforcement”.
New-build developments are increasingly designed for onsite renewable energy, making solar-integrated EV charging a key trend. Installing solar PV on new homes (often on south-facing roofs) allows homeowners to charge their EVs directly from clean, self-generated power. The Energy Saving Trust notes: “If you have solar panels, you could also charge your electric car… during the day while the panels are generating electricity, reducing your fuel costs.” This not only cuts household energy bills but also lowers the property’s carbon footprint.
Looking ahead, solar PV on homes is set to become standard. Recent Government proposals (subject to parliamentary approval) would require all new homes built from 1 October 2026 to have solar PV installed, covering roughly 40% of roof or floor area. Housebuilders planning for this future can integrate EV chargers that directly link to the home’s solar system. For example, waEV-charge offers a solar-ready charger paired with smart energy management (see Integrations). In practice, when the sun is shining, excess solar energy is automatically diverted to charge the EV.
Given these trends, savvy housebuilders are specifying EV chargers that support PV systems and smart energy apps. This ensures new homes are not just EV-ready, but renewable-ready as well.
Government incentives continue to drive EV uptake in new homes. The OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) homecharge grant provides up to £350 or 75% off the purchase and installation of a domestic EV charger. Eligible homeowners (including those living in flats or houses with dedicated parking) can claim this grant when using an OZEV-approved installer. For a typical chargepoint costing around £500-£600 fully installed, the grant significantly offsets the expense, making EV charging more affordable.
Housebuilders can highlight these savings as a selling point: a new homeowner installing a waEV-charge unit (which qualifies for the grant) could pay as little as £150 net. Over time, charging at home (often on cheaper overnight or solar power) is far cheaper than public charging or petrol. In fact, current estimates put the cost of driving an EV at around 2p per mile on a smart tariff, versus 8-10p per mile for a petrol car. These lifetime cost savings are a strong value proposition.
Furthermore, future incentives - such as lower vehicle taxes for EV owners and potential subsidies for on-site storage - will continue to make EV-ready new builds attractive. Housebuilders can position integrated EV charging as both a regulatory compliance and a homeowner benefit, supported by grants and tax advantages.
waEV-charge offers complete EV charging solutions tailored for housebuilders. Our residential chargers are available in both tethered (EV1i) and untethered (EV1s) models, giving homeowners flexibility in cable storage and connector type. They come smart-enabled out of the box - with Wi-Fi connectivity and the ev.energy app - so each charger can optimise charging schedules and integrate with home solar PV. All waEV-charge units are “smart and future-friendly”, aligning with the latest regulations and homeowner expectations.
For developers, waEV-charge provides turnkey support: whether you need bulk supply for self-installation or a full installation service, our team ensures chargers are correctly sited, connected, and certified. We handle building control submissions for Part S compliance and liaise with network operators as needed. Our chargers also meet OZEV requirements, so new-homeowners can easily claim grants. Each unit comes with a 3-year warranty (extendable to 5 years), reflecting our confidence in quality and reliability.
By partnering with waEV-charge, housebuilders can future-proof their developments. Your new homes will arrive on the market already EV-enabled - a key differentiator. This sustainable feature appeals to eco-minded buyers, helps achieve greener development targets, and avoids costly retrofits. As DLUHC has noted, EV infrastructure in new housing is a fast-growing expectation, and incorporating it sets your project apart.
The integration of EV charging into new-build homes is no longer optional - it’s a regulation and a market expectation. Housebuilders who embrace these trends (smart, solar-ready chargers; pre-wiring for EVs; and leveraging government grants) will deliver high-value, future-proof homes. To meet these challenges easily, waEV-charge offers expert support at every stage.
For more information on how waEV-charge can help transform your next development with state-of-the-art EV charging solutions, visit the waEV-charge Housebuilders page. Our team is ready to provide quotes, advice, and full-service installation to ensure your projects exceed the latest standards and delight today’s forward-thinking homebuyers.
This article was written by the waEV-charge Team. waEV-charge specialises in installing and manufacturing EV chargers for both home and commercial use in the UK. If you're interested in electric car chargers, click here to discover more about our products.