Conclusion

Given our ambition to decarbonise transport across the whole of Scotland through a just transition and ensuring we leave no community behind, the cost of EV charge point installation being cheaper at the point of construction versus retrofitting and the national approach taken to building standards, we believe that the approach we are taking is the best one for island communities.

We do not believe that it would be equitable to provide different geographical solutions for EV charge point installation for new domestic and non-domestic buildings, nor do we believe that these new standards will have a disproportionately adverse effect on island communities.

Furthermore, these are minimum requirements and Local Authorities and developers can go beyond these standards with regard to the amount of EV charge points to provide in a new community centre car park for example, or if a Local Authority wanted all charge point sockets to provide a minimum output of 22kW.

Building Standards are regularly reviewed and monitored, and there will be opportunities to update these standards and guidance if the evidence available demonstrates that changes to the approach taken can improve EV provision and ensure the continued viability of developments - but again this would be done at a national level.

We will also continue to engage with the Distribution Network Operators (DNO) and energy providers as these new standards come into effect so that we can understand how they are working in practice and, again, update the standards or guidance if it is required.