Footway channel for electric vehicle charging on the roadside

Subsidised costs for footway channels for EV charging: now available across Enfield

Enfield Council is pleased to launch a new footway channel charging scheme – supported by the Kerbo Charge system. This follows the success of our pilot and will help residents charge electric vehicles safely and conveniently from home.

Our original trial demonstrated that this technology could make switching to an electric vehicle (EV) easier, safer and substantially cheaper for residents who rely on on-street parking and live in a house.

Around 60% of Enfield households rely on street parking, making traditional home charging difficult. The footway channel provides a secure, recessed cable gully that allows you to charge electricity supply from your home without creating a trip hazard on the pavement.

The channel is a self-closing, reinforced duct installed flush into the pavement allowing residents to run an EV charging cable safely from their home to their vehicle. When the cable is inserted, the lid closes behind it like a zip, preventing a trip hazard.

Other UK councils already use similar cross-pavement systems because they are simple, safe and designed specifically for pedestrian areas. Cable channel solutions ('gullies'), are the most widely trialled and effective option for on-street home charging.

Watch the video below that explains how Kerbo Charge cross-pavement EV charging works.

Benefits for EV users

Charge at home for a fraction of the cost

Home energy tariffs are typically 5 to 10 times cheaper than public chargers, making EV ownership far more affordable for residents without driveways.

Charge when it suits you

Most EV drivers only need to charge once a week, depending on battery size and mileage. So even though on street parking cannot be guaranteed, most users do not need to park directly outside their home every day.

A cleaner, greener Enfield

Offering this footway channel scheme supports our climate goals by helping more residents switch away from petrol and diesel, improving air quality borough wide.

Lower cost for residents – new subsidy plus £500 government grant for installing sockets

To make the scheme even more accessible, Enfield Council will introduce a resident subsidy of £480*. This will reduce the upfront cost of having a footway channel installed outside your property.

You may also be eligible for the new £500 UK Government EV Chargepoint Grant, provided through the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), to reduce the cost of buying and installing an EV charging socket.

This grant supports installation of EV charging for households with on street parking and applies from 1 April 2026 onward (deadline for applications is 31 March 2027). To apply for the £500 grant, visit GOV.UK - Electric vehicle chargepoint grant for renters and flat owners.

*Footway channel subsidies will be available on a first come, first served basis, as the number of residents who can claim the support is limited by the size of the government fund.

Is my property suitable?

Footway channels are not suitable in all locations. Enfield Council will assess each location against criteria such as:

• Physical and safety constraints
  • The footway channel must not cross a grass verge, planted area, or unmade surface. It can be installed in hard footway only.
  • It cannot be installed in close proximity to trees. Roots and tree protection zones prevent excavation.
  • To meet safety regulations, EV charger cables are not permitted within 2.5 metres of other electrical street furniture such as EV chargepoints, street light columns, illuminated bollards, feeder pillars, telecoms cabinets
  • A footway channel cannot be installed in areas where parking is restricted such as where there are double yellow lines or red lines, zigzags which prohibit parking, or where there is any other no stopping or waiting zone
  • It must not be installed on the opposite side of the road to the property
• Highway and parking considerations
  • There must be suitable adjacent on street parking as councils cannot reserve spaces for individual households
  • Residents gain no right to a dedicated parking space through a footway channel. For more information, visit EVinfrastructure.
  • Streets with heavy parking competition may not be suitable
• Planning and permissions
  • Listed buildings or heritage areas may also require additional planning permission. For more information, visit Energy Saving Trust.

Other criteria may apply.

Insurance recommendation

Because residents are responsible for the safe use of privately installed channels, applicants should carry liability insurance covering risks associated with charging cables, either through:

• standalone public liability insurance, or
• car insurance with documented cable trip cover. Many insurance providers already include this cover in their policies.

Important terms and conditions

For safe, lawful installation and to protect your grant eligibility, the following conditions apply:

• Do not install a home charger before your channel is approved
• Your charger must be on the OZEV approved equipment list
  • To claim the £500 grant, OZEV requires that installations use approved charge point models and approved installer
• Residents must use standard length EV charging cables to make sure that:
  • the cable sits comfortably inside the channel
  • no excess cable is left trailing

You are responsible for safe day-to-day operation and must make sure of proper use.

Footway channel fees

*Cost is based on a 2.5 metre channel. The cost may be higher for longer length channel requirements. A full quotation will be provided to you following the application.

You do not need to pay the application fee if you have a Blue Badge. Provide a copy of the front and back of the Blue Badge with your application. Other fees and charges still apply and must be paid in full when requested.

Apply for a footway channel

If you would like a Kerbo Charge channel installed at your address as part of the boroughwide rollout, fill out the application form (PDF, 317.78 KB) and pay the application fee.

The council will inform you if your application is successful and let you know next steps.

Problems with a footway channel

If you want to tell us about an issue with a footway channel, complete the online form.

Process steps

Check if your location is eligible

Residents first need to confirm that their property meets Enfield’s physical and safety criteria:

• You live in a house (not a flat) and own it or have your landlord's approval to proceed
• The footway must be hard surfaced (no grass verge or soft ground)
• No trees or protected root zones in the channel route
• Not within 2.5 metres of electrical street furniture (for example, street lights, bollards, feeder pillars)
• No parking restrictions such as double yellow lines, red lines, zig‑zags or no‑stopping zones
• No installation allowed on the opposite side of the road – you cannot lay an EV charging cable across the highway

Make sure you meet all requirements before applying

Residents must take note of the following:

• Do not install a home charger before approval
• Choose a charger from the OZEV approved equipment list
• Make sure your cable is a standard length (no long trailing cables)

Submit your application

Residents must:

• read the application letter which contains the conditions under which a footway channel application will be considered, then complete the footway channel application form at the end of the letter
• Pay the application fee (unless exempt with a Blue Badge)
• email the proof of payment and application to fwaychannel@enfield.gov.uk or send it to:
  Crossover Helpdesk
  Highway Services
  Enfield Council
  PO Box 52
  Civic Centre
  Silver Street
  Enfield
  EN1 3XD

Council carries out on‑site assessment (within 6 weeks)

Our footway technician will:

• visit the property
• check physical suitability and safety constraints
• confirm whether any private property modifications are required to make sure the cable enters the gully safely, for example, creating an entry point for the charger cable at the property boundary with the footway to prevent the charger cable from lifting the channel lid when it is inserted

Residents must not begin any works until they receive written confirmation of approval.

Receive approval and quotation

If approved, the council will issue:

• the quotation for installation and the first-year licence
• instructions on next steps

Residents may also be eligible for:

• council subsidy of £480
• £500 government EV Chargepoint Grant (from 1 April 2026)

Complete any required private works

If the assessment identifies adjustments needed on the resident’s property:

• works must be completed and approved before installation can be scheduled
• works must make sure the cable can enter the channel without lifting the lid

The council may re‑inspect before proceeding.

Make payment for installation

Once private works (if any), are approved, you pay the installation and the first‑year licence fee. Only after payment is received will the installation be scheduled.

Make a payment for a footway channel

Kerbo Charge installation (within 8 weeks)

The council’s contractor will:

• cut and prepare the pavement section
• install the Kerbo Charge self‑closing gully
• reinstate the pavement neatly and safely

The channel is self‑closing and designed to avoid trip hazards.

Start using your Kerbo Charge channel

You can:

• lift the lid, insert the charging cable and allow the lid to close
• charge using your home electricity tariff

Annual licence renewal

You must:

• renew the licence every year
• use the system responsibly

Reporting problems

Any issues with the footway channel can be reported via Enfield’s online form.

The images on this page were kindly provided by Kerbo Charge.