Use this service to apply for the Exeter and Torbay electric vehicle cable channel trial (EV CCT).
Before you start
Before starting your application, please read the guidance provided below to ensure you are eligible and have everything you need to submit an application.
Applications will be open for a limited time only. To prevent disappointment, please apply at your earliest convenience.
Eligibility
To be eligible to take part in the trial, you must:
- be a resident of Exeter or Torbay – check the boundaries for Exeter City Council or check the boundaries for Torbay Council
- be the property owner or have permission from the property owner to apply for an EV cable channel at the property
- live at the property
- own or lease an EV (battery EV or plug-in hybrid EV) – we will accept pending purchase or lease agreements (you will need to be able to provide relevant documentation), however, at this stage of the trial, we may give preference to people who already own or lease an EV
- not have access to off-street parking
- agree to provide information during and after the trial, such as, but not limited to, information about the use of the cable channel, your charging habits and your experience of the trial application process
You must also be able to charge an EV using a suitable external charging point at the property at ground level ensuring that all equipment involved meets minimum standard safety requirements – please read government guidance on EV chargepoint and infrastructure specifications to make sure you can meet these requirements paying particular attention to the guidance under Chargepoint specification for households with on-street parking:
‘The current edition of the IET wiring regulations prevent simultaneous contact between different earth systems. For instance, a charging vehicle and another charging vehicle, or a charging vehicle and metalwork that is connected to a different earth system, such as a streetlight.
‘Electrical equipment of different systems needs to be at least 2.5 metres apart. This may mean two neighbouring houses are unable to both install cross-pavement solutions, or a cross-pavement solution cannot be installed near metalwork.’
Site photo
As part of the application form, you will be required to upload an unobstructed photo of the footway outside your property.
The photo should be taken from the opposite side of the road, looking back at your property (but only if it is safe for you to do so).
Planning permission
Planning permission is not required for the EV cable channel. However, planning permission for your EV charging outlet may be required if:
- you do not have off-street parking
- the outlet and its casing:
- face onto and are within two metres of a highway
- are within a site designated as a scheduled monument
- are within the curtilage of a listed building
Please note that this not an exhaustive list and other criteria may need to be considered to determine whether you need planning permission for your EV charging outlet.
It is your responsibility to contact your local planning authority to find out if you require planning permission for your EV charging outlet. The Planning Portal website provides more details on planning permission for EV charging points.
If you do not have an existing EV charging outlet and require the EV cable channel to be eligible for an EV chargepoint grant, we will consider approval in principle for the cable channel.
Installation of the cable channel will not progress while a planning application is pending. This is, therefore, likely to have an impact on delivery time, which is beyond our control.
Cable channel licence
If you are eligible to have an EV cable channel installed, you will need to have a cable channel licence in place. The licence gives you consent to run the private EV charging cable through the public highway using an EV cable channel.
The licence comes with standard terms and conditions including, but not limited to, the responsibility, use, maintenance and liability for the cable channel.
You will be required to indicate that you have read, understood and agree to the terms and conditions when you fill out our application form.
If your application is successful, you will receive the licence automatically and there is no need to submit a separate application. Licences granted during the trial period will expire on 31 January 2027 at the latest (see section 3 – ‘Licence period’ of the terms and conditions).
To enable continued use of the cable channel, the licensee will be required to apply for a new relevant licence before this date
Sites on a highway verge
We will consider applications for sites that require the cable channel to pass through a highway verge, however, the site must be part of the public highway, managed by the Highway Authority for your area.
Please note that having a cable channel installed through a highway verge may incur an additional cost. As the cable channel would likely require support from a concrete base which would involve ground and concrete works.
You can check whether a site is part of the public highway on the Devon County Council highways public access viewer or on the Torbay Council website at Find adopted highways.
Expressions of interest from those outside of Exeter and Torbay
We are not currently considering applications from areas outside of Exeter and Torbay. However, those living outside these areas can submit an expression of interest – and these may help inform the next steps.
We will contact you when we are able to roll out the scheme to other parts of Devon. This may not be until after the trial has ended and charges may apply for the installation and licence.
What happens next
Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis and evaluated on their eligibility as well as the suitability of the property or site.
EV cable channels may not be a suitable solution for some properties, for example, where parking is not permitted or would be inappropriate, or in certain heritage conservation areas.
We will need to carry out a site visit to make sure the site is suitable for installation of an EV cable channel.
We will aim to contact you within 12 weeks of submitting your application to let you know if your application has been successful or not.
This trial is provided by Devon County Council on behalf of Devon County Council and Torbay Council. Devon County Council reserves the right to cancel or amend this offer and its terms and conditions at any time.
If you haven’t heard from us within 12 weeks of your application being submitted, please email us at csc.roads@devon.gov.uk or call us on 0345 155 1004.