Builders slam plans for electric car chargers in all new homes

Grant Prior 4 years ago
Share

The National Federation of Builders has slammed government plans to require all new homes to have electric vehicle (EV) chargers as another “stealth tax” on construction.

The federation fears the construction industry will foot the bill for chargers while electricity companies benefit.

It said that to achieve planning permission builders are required to fund substations so that electricity companies can provide enough load to new and old developments.

Costs are considerable – upward of £50,000 for a handful of homes – and neither the builder or homeowner profits from this infrastructure because the electricity companies receive revenue in perpetuity from someone else’s investment.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB said: “We support the green industry and a green transition because it is a necessary part of change but due to how infrastructure investment works in practice, once again, the Government is seeking to grow its political capital and advance big business, at the expense of the construction industry and taxpayer.”

Rico Wojtulewicz, head of housing at the House Builders Association (HBA), the housebuilding arm of the NFB, said: “This Government has only been in power for two years and has already introduced four new and stealth taxes on the construction industry. EV charging will be the fifth.

“It’s a disgusting way to treat a sector who worked throughout the Covid-19 lockdown to help pay for furlough and the impact of Covid-19.

“The Government needs to think very carefully about how it achieves a green revolution. It must require electricity companies to shoulder this cost, as they will be profiting from these investments in perpetuity.

“Or perhaps it is time to bring services into public ownership because the Government is not proving able to regulate the sector in a way that doesn’t cost the taxpayer.

“As we told the Prime Minister during COP26 in relation to retrofitting and onshore renewable energy, it is time the Conservatives began risking some of their own political capital and not simply expecting taxpayers and business to risk their financial capital. The Governments green legacy is looking like taxation and flawed policy, not revolutionary change.”

Latest news

Retentions could be banned in late payment crackdown

Government considers abolition of hated system in construction
53 minutes ago

Arora and Bechtel pitch rival Heathrow expansion plan

New Terminal 6 and runway said to be faster, greener and cheaper option
14 hours ago

Major delays hit £4.8bn Levelling Up project programme

Whitehall admits most projects still stuck in design or planning phase
13 hours ago

London new home starts slump 59% as safety regime bites

National rise masks capital’s fall amid BSR delays and social housing slowdown
12 hours ago

Maidstone seeks builder for £50m flats project

10-storey tower part of council’s Springfield Library redevelopment plans
13 hours ago

Former Lambeth council office to become Premier Inn

Developer Whitbread looking for contractor for latest conversion project
12 hours ago

Construction to start on UK’s first floating padel courts

Liverpool Waters gets green light for unique leisure complex
13 hours ago

Bombshell cavity barrier defects wipe out Taylor Wimpey profits

Fresh £222m provision for fire safety failings behind brick facades
2 days ago

39 firms win £3bn South East schools framework

LCP panel covers new build, retrofit and fire safety upgrade work
2 days ago

Esh boss bullish as profits and prospects rise

North of England contractor looking forward to continued growth
2 days ago

Government sets up Platform4 to build 40,000 homes on rail land

Former Lendlease Development chief Bek Seeley to head Platform4
2 days ago

Race starts for £858m London highways consultancy deal

Ealing Council is leading the launch of a major new highways and transport consultancy framework
2 days ago

Bridge parts set sail for £20m Murphy Stockport site

"Dress rehearsal" bridge assembly ahead of three week rail closure
2 days ago

22 firms win Prosper £500m new build homes framework

Deal designed with input from Believe Housing, Gentoo and Karbon Homes
2 days ago

Civils contractor Galldris sold to staff

£125m turnover firm transitions to Employee Ownership Trust
3 days ago

Fit-out firepower drives Morgan Sindall to record half-year

£390m cash pile supports push on partnerships and frameworks
3 days ago

Grid delays now rival planning as chief threat to project delivery

Turner & Townsend flags urgent need to prioritise electricity connections on projects
3 days ago

Forterra to shut down two divisions

Materials giant exiting Formpave block paving and Bison Bespoke precast businesses
3 days ago

Vistry and Kier team up again for Wokingham homes plan

Third major partnership kicks off first phase of 1,400-home Berkshire plan
3 days ago

Wates preps £200m Middlesbrough regen site

Work begins on landmark Crown Square project with hotel, student flats and homes
4 days ago

BAM Nuttall rail boss to join Balfour

Richard Watts to become Managing Director of UK Rail business
6 days ago

Peel Ports unveils £60m expansion plan for Yarmouth

New Southern Terminal to target big infrastructure and offshore energy schemes
3 days ago

£1bn beach defence mega-framework up for grabs

Environment Agency seeks two marine contractors to protect England’s coastlines
4 days ago

Bovis set for £220m tower job near British Museum

John F Hunt to start demolition work for big West End scheme
4 days ago

Carnell poaches another National Highways director

Maintenance contractor becomes latest private firm to lure public sector chief
3 days ago

Plans go in for Warrington logistics site revamp

Outdated units to be replaced at Hawleys Lane
4 days ago

Morgan Sindall site closed after fatal accident

Tragedy at £90m Mill Yard job in Cambridge
7 days ago

DfE signs off £148m school rebuild trio

B+K and Bouygues land major academy projects across England
7 days ago

Contract race starts for £205m A9 dualling job

Latest deal involves building or upgrading nine bridges
7 days ago

Higgins to turn former care home site into council houses

Construction to start early next year on Buckinghamshire scheme
7 days ago