Electric vehicle charge point operators - Street Works in Dorset

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:

• excavating the carriageway, footway, or verge
• installing ducting, feeder pillars, or associated electrical infrastructure
• creating or modifying foundations for charge point hardware
• carrying out reinstatement works after installation

If the work affects any part of the highway surface or structure, a permit is needed before work can begin.

Why the Permit requirement matters

Using the permit system ensures that EV charging infrastructure in Dorset is:

• coordinated with other planned works to minimise disruption
• safe, with appropriate traffic management and working practices
• timely, avoiding unnecessary delays or conflicts on the network
• compliant with national street works standards and reinstatement requirements

Permits also provide a clear record of responsibilities, timings, and reinstatement obligations for each installation.

Private cross-pavement EV charging solutions

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:

• new above‑ground equipment such as charge point units, feeder pillars, or cabinets
• installations in conservation areas or other sensitive locations
• works that materially alter the appearance or use of land

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.

Training materials and tutorials

Charge point operators must ensure that all relevant staff are familiar with how Street Manager works. This includes understanding:

• how to submit permit applications
• how to update works information
• how to respond to requests for changes or further details
• how to close works correctly once reinstatement is complete
• how to register all reinstatements in the highway

Refer to DfT guidance for:

• videos about how to use Street Manager
• signing up to and using Street Manager

How Street Manager is used in Dorset

The council uses Street Manager to:

• assess permit applications
• approve or refuse permits
• request changes or additional information
• coordinate works with other planned activity on the network
• record progress and completion of works
• maintain an up‑to‑date picture of all activity on the highway

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.

Early engagement and site coordination

Before applying for a permit, undertakers should work with the council to:

• identify suitable locations for EV charge points
• understand any local constraints, such as traffic sensitivity, safety considerations, or planned works
• carry out site surveys to confirm technical feasibility
• ensure proposals align with Dorset’s wider EV charging strategy and network planning

Agreement before applying

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:

• discussions during pre‑application engagement
• findings from site visits and surveys
• alignment with local EV rollout plans
• consideration of network capacity, accessibility, and safety

Permit applications should accurately reflect what was discussed and agreed during this early coordination stage.

Consistency between engagement and permit applications

The council may refuse a permit if the submitted application:

• differs significantly from what was agreed during pre‑application discussions
• proposes a location or design that has not been coordinated
• introduces new impacts or risks that were not previously considered

Maintaining consistency between early engagement and the final permit application helps ensure smoother approvals and reduces the likelihood of refusals or rework.

Why coordination matters

Effective coordination supports:

• minimised disruption to road users and local communities
• efficient planning, avoiding clashes with other works
• better long‑term outcomes, ensuring charge points are placed where they are most needed
• compliance with statutory duties under NRSWA

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:

• what is being installed, what activities will take place, and how the work will be carried out
• the exact location, including coordinates, site plans, and any relevant photos or drawings
• proposed start and end dates, working hours, and any flexibility around these
• how traffic, pedestrians and cyclists will be safely managed during the works
• realistic estimates of how long each phase of the works will take
• evidence of prior engagement, demonstrating that early coordination has taken place

Providing complete and accurate information helps ensure that applications can be assessed quickly and reduces the likelihood of delays or refusals.

Permit response timeframes

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:

• initial permit decisions
• requests for further information
• variations or changes to existing permits

Submitting well‑prepared applications helps ensure decisions can be made within these statutory periods.

When permit applications might be refused

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:

• insufficient or unclear information
• lack of evidence of prior engagement
• proposals that differ from what was agreed during pre‑application discussions
• conflicts with other planned works or network constraints
• non‑compliance with statutory guidance or local requirements

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:

• our NRSWA Inspectors will carry out visual checks of reinstatements, to ensure they have been laid correctly
• some sites may be included in the council's continual coring programme
• promoters must check the outcomes of the inspections our inspectors record
• cooperate with the council to promptly resolve any defects which may be identified, to avoid escalation

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:

• reviewing permit applications promptly - the council will assess applications within the statutory timeframes, ensuring decisions are made efficiently and consistently
• coordinating works with other planned activity - the council checks for clashes with other street works, events, or network constraints, and ensure that EV charge point installations fit within wider coordination plans
• applying statutory guidance on fees and timings - Permit fees, response times and conditions must follow national regulations and guidance, ensuring fairness and transparency
• ensuring accessibility and safety standards - the council will confirm that proposed traffic management, working methods and reinstatement plans maintain safe access for all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and people with mobility needs
• enforcing permit conditions - the council can inspect works, issue improvement notices, apply sanctions, or take enforcement action where conditions are breached or reinstatement is inadequate

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.

• most FPNs are £240, reduced to £160 if paid within 29 days.
• working without a permit carries a higher FPN of £1,000, reduced to £600 if paid within 29 days.

Authorities carry out routine and targeted inspections to check compliance with:

• the Safety Code of Practice
• permit conditions
• the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways (SROH)

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.

Dorset local

You may find local additional guidance and licence information useful:

• Dorset Council permit scheme for road works and street works (including Permit fees and charges)
• Traffic sensitive streets, tourism routes and special considerations
• Temporary traffic restrictions for road and street works (TTROs, including temporary parking suspensions)
• Highway searches
• Temporary traffic signals licence
• Temporary suspension or relocation of bus stops
• Highway maintainable at public expense

Section 115E

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:

• a street works permit, or
• a section 50 licence

This change streamlines the process and removes unnecessary additional approvals.

Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs)

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.

Important Street Works considerations for charge point operators

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.