Charging points for electric vehicles will be allowed on streets and in outdoor car parks without the need for planning permission.

Ministers hope that removing the bureaucratic barrier will encourage thousands of charging points to be built across the country, helping the faltering sale of electric cars. The Green party leader, Caroline Lucas, welcomed the move, which is due to be announced tomorrow, but warned that eco-friendly cars are "only as green as the electricity they run on". Lucas said: "Ministers must take action as well to boost the renewable energy industry."