Background

Policy proposals

The First Minister declared a Global Climate Emergency in April 2019 and announced that Scotland will be carbon neutral by 2040 and will emit net-zero emissions by 2045. The Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan update (CCPu), published in December 2020, set out the pathway to meet Scotland’s statutory greenhouse gas emission reduction targets by 2032.

With the transport sector being the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Scotland, accounting for 29% of all emissions in 2019, and road transport making up the majority of those emissions at 66% (Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics), we have committed to decarbonising transport in Scotland. Scotland’s ambitious climate change legislation sets a target date for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045, with interim targets of 75% by 2030 and 90% by 2040. In line with this, the National Transport Strategy 2 sets out the strategic vision for Scotland’s transport system and the national Mission Zero for transport aims to ensure people and places benefit fairly from the shift to sustainable, zero emission mobility. This underlines our ambition to deliver a healthier, cleaner and greener Scotland for current and future generations.

As part of this, we are fully committed to phasing out the need for petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030. The transition to EV’s will contribute significantly to these goals but availability and convenience of EV charging infrastructure is frequently cited as a negative factor impacting an individual’s decision to purchase an EV.

To overcome this barrier, growth in EV uptake will need to be matched with growth in reliable and convenient charging infrastructure that puts consumer needs first. Overnight charging of an EV at home, for example, provides a convenient opportunity for many households. Similarly, opportunities to charge at other locations, including at workplace and leisure destinations, will be important for those without a dedicated driveway and to meet charging needs on longer journeys.

Therefore, on 26 July 2021, the Scottish Government launched a consultation: Building regulations - energy standards and associated topics - proposed changes. Section 7 of the consultation sought views on the requirements we proposed to set out in legislation for the installation of EV charge points and enabling infrastructure in a number of different building types with parking spaces (see below). The consultation closed on 28 November and analysis of those responses was undertaken by Harlow Consulting.

New Domestic Buildings

  • All dwellings with a parking space to have at least one EV charge point socket with minimum 7kW output power rating.
  • Exemption to requirement to install EV charge point if additional cost of electricity grid connection exceeds £2,000.
  • If exemption applies ducting infrastructure to be installed in each car parking space.

Non-domestic Buildings undergoing major renovation

  • For buildings with more than 10 car parking spaces, ducting to be installed in each residential car parking space to support the future installation of an EV charge point (unless the cost of recharging and ducting infrastructure exceeds 7% of total major renovation cost).
  • EV charge points sockets to be installed, with minimum 7kW output power rating, in as many residential car parking spaces as the electrical capacity of building post-renovation allows.

New Non-domestic Buildings

  • For buildings with more than 10 non-residential car parking spaces, 1 in every 2 non-residential parking spaces to have ducting installed and 1 in every 10 non-residential parking spaces to provide an EV charge point socket with minimum 7kW output power rating.

Non-domestic Buildings undergoing major renovation

  • For buildings with more than 10 non-residential car parking spaces, 1 in every 2 non-residential parking spaces to have ducting installed and 1 in every 10 non-residential parking spaces to provide an EV charge point socket with minimum 7kW output power rating (unless the cost of recharging and ducting infrastructure exceeds 7% of total major renovation cost).

In addition, to ensure that those using accessible parking spaces have access to charge point sockets, we are proposing that at least 1 accessible parking space should have access to an EV charge point socket for every 4 accessible parking spaces provided. This policy will have greater implications with regard to non-domestic buildings with car parks as domestic buildings with a parking space should have an EV charge point as standard (except in some limited circumstances).

Building Regulations

Requirements applicable to building work are set through Building Regulations as a set of mandatory standards. These are simple statements on what outcomes must be achieved when undertaking building work. These standards are defined and applied at a national level and supported by a body of guidance set out in Domestic and Non-domestic Technical Handbooks. This published guidance assists by defining the scope of action expected under each standard, providing one or more examples of how compliance with the standard can be achieved. Standards can also be met through use of solutions not included in published guidance.