In my recent articles, I’ve talked about reliability, security, and the importance of building trust in EV charging.
This time, I want to turn to a topic that rarely makes the headlines but has a significant impact on how quickly we can deploy charging infrastructure across the UK: it’s how we connect sites to the grid.
It’s one of the most critical and often least understood parts of the jigsaw in unlocking the acceleration of the UK’s EV transition and keeping us on track.
The success story so far
The UK continues to make strong progress in electric mobility.
As of the end of October 2025, there are now more than 1.7 million fully electric cars on the road and over 86,000 public charging points in operation across the country (Zapmap, 2025).
This is an incredible achievement by everyone involved in the ecosystem; charge point operators, installers, grid companies, policymakers, and drivers alike. It shows how far collaboration has brought us in just a few short years.
But while the number of chargers continues to rise, the speed of deployment is increasingly shaped by something behind the scenes: the process of getting those chargers connected to power.
The hidden cost of connection delays
It’s important to say up front: the grid itself is not always the issue.
The UK’s electricity network performs well, compared to some European markets, where securing new grid capacity can take two to three years.
What slows progress in the UK is often the process, not the power.
Navigating approvals, differing legal frameworks, and the steps needed to secure connection offers can vary widely between regions.
In some cases, determining when substation leases or land rights will complete can feel like asking, “𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨?”
These delays matter, not just for charging operators, like Allego, but for drivers waiting for dependable infrastructure and for communities counting on the jobs and investment that come with each site.
Every week a charger sits unconnected is a week that confidence in the EV rollout risks being undermined.
Why it’s complex
To be fair, the system wasn’t designed for the volume of connections we now need.
Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) have processes built for a time when only a handful of large projects needed approval each year, not thousands of smaller but time-sensitive EV charging sites.
And to their credit, many are now working hard to modernise those processes.
There’s also a regional dimension.
Scotland operates slightly differently to England and Wales, with its own approval procedures and frameworks.
That means timescales and requirements can differ, even for similar projects.
So, while no grid is without its challenges, the UK’s real bottleneck is increasingly about how we coordinate, not whether the power exists.
Where we go from here
There’s no single fix for connection delays but there are practical steps we can take, together, to make things faster and more predictable.
𝟭. 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
The best results happen when everyone; charge point operators, grid companies, local authorities, and landowners comes together early.
Getting around the table before plans are finalised helps identify potential hurdles sooner and avoids months of rework later.
𝟮. 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀
At the moment, every region and even every DNO area, can work a little differently.
Greater consistency in how applications are handled, and clearer timelines for each stage, would make planning easier for everyone.
𝟯. 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
Often, the power is ready, but the paperwork isn’t.
Negotiating land leases for substations or wayleaves for cables can take longer than the technical build work itself.
Using shared templates or nationally agreed frameworks could save valuable time and reduce uncertainty.
𝟰. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝘂𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀
Where grid upgrades are genuinely needed, clear milestones and open communication are key.
When everyone knows when and where reinforcements will happen, charge point operators can anticipate changes, manage expectations and plan proactively.
Positive steps are already underway, ranging from the Government’s Connections Action Plan to DNOs piloting quicker and more transparent procedures, with support from industry trade associations such as ChargeUK and REA to provide oversight and guidance.
But more consistency, openness, and early engagement will be what truly unlocks the pace we need.
Paz Sharma is Managing Director of Allego UK and Ireland
Article originally published on LinkedIn on 13th November 2025
Feature Image Source: Freepik