Electric vehicle footway channel terms and conditions

These are the terms and conditions for our electric vehicle (EV) footway channel installation service. Please read them all carefully and only submit an application if you are confident that you can meet all the criteria listed.

If you decide to apply, we suggest you make a copy of these terms and conditions for your records.

1. Channel requirements

1. The footway channel is not provided with a dedicated parking bay and it does not give you a right to the roadside space adjacent to the footway channel. You will only be able to charge your electric vehicle at the roadside when you are able to park it close enough to the footway channel for the charging cable to reach it
2. We will not install a footway channel across a grass verge or shrub bed
3. We will only install a footway channel where there is legal parking space on the road outside your property that you can use at all times without any time restrictions (e.g. parking permit required in Controlled Parking Zones)
4. We will not install a footway channel across anywhere that has defined footway parking (two or four wheels)
5. The maximum length of a footway channel is 6 metres. If the distance from the edge of your property to the kerb is greater than this we will we not be able to install a channel
6. We will not install a footway channel within 2.5 metres of an electrical installation on the pavement or public highway, e.g. street lighting column, parking machine, telecoms cabinet, etc
7. We will not install a footway channel within 1 metre of any tree (the distance may be greater for larger trees)
8. You cannot have a footway channel if you have an existing vehicle crossover (dropped kerb) to enable you to park on your property, unless you commit to removing the crossover and off-street parking space at your expense
9. We will only install a footway channel at properties with ground floor access. We will not install one for an upstairs flat
10. You are responsible for ensuring that any necessary permissions have been granted before to making an application. If you are a private or social housing tenant, this includes acquiring written consent from the property owner to install a chargepoint and/or to carry out works to the property
11. If the charging cable must cross private land between the footway (public highway) and the chargepoint/socket then written consent must be obtained from the landowner
12. Installation of an EV chargepoint is not permitted development unless you have off-street car parking. Therefore planning permission is required and this must be sought and obtained before an associated chargepoint can be installed for use with the footway channel. We will normally approve applications where the chargepoint will be used with the footway channel. You should not apply for planning permission until you have been advised that your application is successful (see 2.1)
13. The chargepoint used in combination with the footway channel must not protrude into public highway space, i.e. it must be fully within your property boundary
14. The chargepoint used in combination with the footway channel must be certified by a registered electrician as being compliant with BS 7671 - see section 4.6
15. Use of the footway channel will only be permitted on payment of a licence fee. The licence enables the legal placement of a cable across the highway pursuant to Section 178 of the Highways Act 1980, utilising the footway channel to do so. The licence is for three years and must be renewed at the end of each three-year period, otherwise permission to use the footway channel will be withdrawn - see section 4.1

2. If your application is approved

1. If we assess your property to be suitable, we will send you a quotation letter which will include the cost of providing a footway channel and installation and the first three-year licence fee. You will be asked to submit a full application and pay your fee (non-refundable once a site visit has taken place). We will request any further payments from you in writing. Please do not make any payment until requested
2. Your quotation letter will also list the documents and evidence we will require you to provide before installation can take place, e.g. landlord's consent, if applicable
3. You may need to carry out works on your property to prevent the charger cable from lifting the lid of the channel at the entry point. If this is the case, you will be informed in the quotation letter
4. You can install either a dedicated chargepoint or an external 13-amp socket to plug your charger cable into, on condition this complies with BS 7671. To comply you must ensure:
   • There is a dedicated circuit to the consumer unit or meter so there is no risk of overheating
   • A PEN (Protective Earthed Neutral) fault protection device is installed on the consumer unit so the cable can be safely trailed outside of the home
   • The socket has surge protection
5. We will only arrange installation of the footway channel once all the required works on your property have been completed and approved, the chargepoint/socket has been installed by a qualified, registered electrician to meet BS 7671 standards, and you have provided us with the required safety certificates - see section 4.6. The electrician must take into account that the cable will be used to charge the vehicle in public space using the footway channel and confirm that they have considered this in their certification
6. You must park your car at least 2.5 metres away from metal-cased electrical street furniture such as lampposts and electrical cabinets or any other charging vehicle when using the charging channel. This means if another vehicle is being charged within 2.5m of your vehicle you must wait until it is unplugged before plugging in your vehicle

3. Installation

1. We aim to install the footway channel within eight weeks of your full payment being received. However, periods of prolonged bad weather may cause delays in meeting this timescale
2. The footway channel will normally be installed in a direct line from the property boundary in line with the cable chargepoint, direct to the kerbside. It will not deviate to the left or right to circumnavigate obstacles such as street light columns, utility boxes etc
3. The footway channel will be installed flush with the surrounding footway and, where necessary, very minor adjustments to the footway will be made to ensure this
4. The footway channel will remain the property of Richmond Council at all times and will form an integral part of the adopted highway whilst it is in place

4. Licensee responsibilities

1. After the first three years, you will need to pay to renew the Section 178 licence to enable continued use of the footway channel. We will write to you when the licence is due for renewal. If you cannot or will not pay the licence fee when due, you will not be authorised to use the footway channel and we will consider its removal
2. It will be your responsibility as licensee to ensure that the cable is laid completely flat within the footway channel while it is being used. Except when the charging cable is being inserted or removed, the lid of the footway channel must be laid flat at all times to prevent potential trip hazards on the footway
3. Whilst maintenance of the footway will be the responsibility of the Council, under the terms of the licence, you (as licensee) will be responsible for the routine maintenance of the footway channel, i.e. ensuring it remains in good working order, that the lid can close flat, and that stones and other debris are cleared from the bottom
4. Any damage to the footway channel must be reported to us at electricvehicles@richmond.gov.uk. Contact details are also included in the licence
5. As licensee, you agree to take up suitable car or home insurance (where available) to cover use of the chargepoint and footway channel, or to otherwise indemnify the Council against any claim for injury, damage, loss, or third party claim in respect of its ongoing use
6. If your application is approved, you will be running your EV charging cable through a public space to charge your car. For electrical safety reasons you must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the chargepoint and charging cable comply with BS 7671 wiring regulations. You should only use the channel with a domestic chargepoint rated up to 7.5kW or an external 13A socket installed by a qualified electrician, and a mode 3 or 4 charging cable no wider than 16mm in diameter. We will need to see an electrical safety certificate before we will install the footway channel
7. As licensee, you agree to carry out periodic electrical safety inspections on the EV charger equipment to comply with BS 7671