From Mud to Megawatts

Part S is a section of the Building Regulations for England that came into force on 15 June 2022. It requires the provision of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new residential and non-residential buildings. For non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces, at least one charge point must be installed and cable routes provided for one in five of the total spaces.

Part S applies to all new buildings in England — both residential and non-residential — where there are associated parking spaces. It also applies to buildings undergoing a material change of use and to existing non-residential buildings with more than 20 parking spaces (from 2025). If you're unsure whether your project falls under Part S, our team can carry out a free compliance assessment.

Non-compliance with Part S can result in your building control sign-off being withheld, which means you cannot legally occupy or sell the building. Retrospective installation is significantly more expensive than building it in during construction, as it requires re-excavation of surfaces, additional electrical work, and potential disruption to tenants or residents.

A charge point is a fully installed, operational EV charger ready for immediate use. A cable route is the underlying infrastructure — ducting, containment, and electrical capacity — that allows a charge point to be added quickly and cost-effectively in the future without the need for groundworks. Part S requires both: active charge points now and cable routes for future expansion.