This guidance is for any electric vehicle charge point operators (EVCPOs) carrying out street works to install public EV charge points in Dorset. It sets out what the recent changes to national street works rules mean in practice, and how they affect the way EV charge points must be planned, permitted and installed on Dorset’s roads.
For avoidance of doubt; any use of the term "charge points" in this guidance, means: 'charge points and associated infrastructure'; or quite simply 'charging infrastructure'.
'EV' refers to electric vehicles; and 'CPOs' refers to charge point operators.
The Highway and Permit Authority in the rural county of Dorset is Dorset Council.
The team responsible for administering the council's duties in regards to Street Works and associated legislation is the Traffic Team.
This guidance explains what the legislative changes mean in practice for organisations planning and delivering EV charge point installations across Dorset. It:
The overall aim is to help all parties involved in EV charge point delivery navigate the updated street works framework, ensuring that installations are well‑planned, coordinated and fully compliant with statutory requirements across Dorset.
The following statutory guidance documents set out the national standards for street works, including maintenance requirements and the roles and responsibilities of undertakers and highway authorities:
Until recently, most public EV charge point installations were carried out under Section 50 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA). This meant that organisations without statutory rights - including EV charge point operators (EVCPOs) - had to apply for a street works licence from the relevant highway authority before starting work.
By comparison, long‑established statutory undertakers such as electricity, water and telecoms companies have been able to use the permit system under the Traffic Management Act 2004 for many years.
The Planning and Infrastructure Act (PIA) 2025 changes this position. EVCPOs are now granted the right to carry out street works using the permit‑based regime, rather than relying on Section 50 licences. Updates to the Traffic Management Permit Scheme (England) Regulations 2007 formally include EVCPOs within the definition of an undertaker, meaning they are now subject to the same operational rules and enforcement processes as other utilities.
For Dorset, this means that public EV charge point installations on the highway can now follow the permit system, bringing EV infrastructure into line with other utility street works.
A street works permit is required for any activity linked to installing public EV charging infrastructure in Dorset when the work involves breaking, opening, or disturbing the highway. This includes:
If the work affects any part of the highway surface or structure, a permit is needed before work can begin.
Using the permit system ensures that EV charging infrastructure in Dorset is:
Permits also provide a clear record of responsibilities, timings, and reinstatement obligations for each installation.
Information in this guide is available about how these private installations are managed.
Planning permission and street works permits are separate legal requirements. Where planning permission is needed for an EV charge point installation, it must be secured before applying for a street works permit.
Planning permission may be required for:
The planning process considers land use, visual impact, and local policy. The street works permit process focuses on how the works affect the highway network, safety, and coordination with other activities.
Both approvals must be in place before any works begin.
The Planning Authority in the rural county of Dorset is Dorset Council.
Street Manager is the national digital platform, run by the Department for Transport (DfT), that all organisations must use to plan, manage and coordinate street works. All permit applications for EV charge point installations in Dorset must be submitted through this system.
To use Street Manager, an organisation must first have a valid Street Works Act (SWA) code, issued by GeoPlace. This code identifies the organisation as an undertaker for the purposes of street works. Separate national guidance explains how SWA codes are allocated and how organisations can apply for one.
Once an EVCPO has an SWA code, they are expected to submit all permit applications for works in Dorset through Street Manager.
Charge point operators must ensure that all relevant staff are familiar with how Street Manager works. This includes understanding:
Refer to DfT guidance for:
The council uses Street Manager to:
Accurate and timely use of Street Manager by EVCPOs helps ensure that works across Dorset are well‑coordinated, minimise disruption, and comply with national street works requirements.
Under sections 59 and 60 of the New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA), undertakers and highway authorities have a legal duty to coordinate works and cooperate with each other. For EV charge point installations in Dorset, this means that early engagement must take place before any permit application is submitted.
Before applying for a permit, undertakers should work with the council to:
The preferred location and layout of each charge point installation should be agreed before a permit application is made. This agreement should be based on:
Permit applications should accurately reflect what was discussed and agreed during this early coordination stage.
The council may refuse a permit if the submitted application:
Maintaining consistency between early engagement and the final permit application helps ensure smoother approvals and reduces the likelihood of refusals or rework.
Effective coordination supports:
Strong pre‑application engagement is therefore essential for a successful and compliant EV charge point rollout across Dorset.
The team responsible for administering the council's duties in regards to Street Works and associated legislation is the Traffic Team.
The council operates a permit scheme, to make sure that network activities are undertaken safely and efficiently for all our highway users. We can also enable people to make the right transport and route choices. We want those choices to be first and foremost; efficient, sustainable, healthy and convenient.
Permit applications for EV charge point installations in Dorset must contain enough detail for the highway authority to fully understand the nature and impact of the proposed works.
Each application should include clear and accurate information about:
Providing complete and accurate information helps ensure that applications can be assessed quickly and reduces the likelihood of delays or refusals.
The council must respond to permit applications within the statutory timeframes set out in national guidance. For most applications, this is typically 2 to 5 working days, depending on the category of the works.
These timeframes apply to:
Submitting well‑prepared applications helps ensure decisions can be made within these statutory periods.
Permit refusal codes may be issued where an application does not meet the required standards or conflicts with earlier coordination. Common reasons for refusal include:
Refusal codes must be used in line with national guidance, ensuring transparency and consistency.
Applicants should review refusal reasons carefully and resubmit with the necessary corrections or clarifications.
The Highway must be reinstated according to the Specification for the reinstatement of openings in highways (SROH).
Reinstatement details for all sites must be recorded accurately within statutory timescale on the relevant Permit.
The team responsible for administering the council's duties in regards to Street Works and associated legislation is the Traffic Team, and the council's inspectors will be able to offer advice on reinstatement requirements.
In line with the Inspections code of practice:
Like all Highway Authorities, Dorset plays a central role in managing and coordinating street works in it's administrative area. Their responsibilities include ensuring that EV charge point installations are planned, permitted and delivered in a way that protects the highway network and minimises disruption.
Key duties include:
EVCPOs are now subject to the same enforcement rules as other statutory undertakers. Working without a permit or breaching permit conditions is a serious offence, as it can cause disruption, congestion and safety risks.
Operators must submit start notices, stop notices and reinstatement notifications on time. Up‑to‑date information helps manage traffic, protect bus routes and ensure the network runs smoothly. Timely reinstatement notices also allow highway authorities to:
inspect works for compliance with safety and technical standards
identify defects early, reducing the risk of potholes and long‑term damage
Highway authorities may issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for offences such as late notices, breaches of permit conditions or working without a permit.
Authorities carry out routine and targeted inspections to check compliance with:
A performance‑based inspection regime applies, meaning operators with poorer compliance records may face more frequent inspections. Undertakers must cover the cost of these inspections.
For serious or repeated breaches, or where FPNs are not paid, authorities may pursue criminal prosecution under NRSWA. This is generally reserved for cases involving significant safety risks or persistent non‑compliance.
Under section 74 of NRSWA, authorities may also charge for unreasonably prolonged occupation of the highway. Overrun charges depend on the road type and duration and can reach up to £10,000 per day.
EV charge point operators remain responsible for the equipment they install. This includes keeping all apparatus in good working order, as required under NRSWA duties. The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 add further obligations, such as reliability reporting, providing a 24/7 helpline, and meeting enforcement requirements.
There is no operator‑of‑last‑resort system for public charge points. However, charge point assets retain commercial value, and in the rare event of an operator exiting the market, it is expected that these assets would be taken on and integrated into another operator’s network.
The statutory instrument amends the Traffic Management Permit Scheme (England) Regulations 2007. The changes outlined in this guidance apply only to electric vehicle charge point operators (EV CPOs) and relate specifically to how public EV charge points are installed and managed under the street works permit regime. They do not apply to cross‑pavement EV charging solutions.
You may find local additional guidance and licence information useful:
In the past, some authorities required EV charge point operators to obtain permission under section 115E of the Highways Act 1980 as well as a Section 50 licence. This created duplication and added delays.
The Planning and Infrastructure Act (PIA) 2025 has now amended the Highways Act to prevent authorities from requiring section 115E permissions for EV charge point installations where the works can be authorised through either:
This change streamlines the process and removes unnecessary additional approvals.
TROs still apply where EV bays or restrictions are to be introduced, ensuring continued consultation with residents and businesses.
The team responsible for administering the council's duties in regards to TROs and associated legislation is the Traffic Regulation Team.
The Traffic Team is here to facilitate your works, support timely delivery, and help ensure Dorset’s network operates safely and efficiently.
In return, we ask that all EV Charge Point Operators help us.
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Communicate proactively | If you are planning extensive or ongoing works in Dorset, please introduce your organisation to the Traffic Team so we can establish clear points of contact and coordination |
| Consider the wider network and needs of others | Take into account the demands, constraints and requirements of the council and all other works promoters operating on Dorset’s highway network |
| Plan and coordinate | Assess the cumulative impact of your own works, including phasing, traffic management, access needs, and potential conflicts with other activities |
| Deliver works safely and on time | Ensure your operations meet all safety standards, minimise disruption, and adhere to agreed permit duration. |
| Maintain accurate permit and works information | Keep permits, variations, work records, and reinstatement registrations up to date throughout the lifecycle of the works. |
| Restore the highway properly - first time round | Complete reinstatements safely and promptly -to specification once the civils works are complete |
| Work with us to resolve any issues promptly | Collaborate so we can address any localised, network‑wide, or repeat issues - including reinstatement defects, customer complaints, traffic management concerns or coordination issues. |
