Britain will make electric car chargers compulsory for new buildings in England from 2022, as it switches away from high-polluting vehicles, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.

Johnson, fresh from hosting the COP26 climate change summit, told business leaders that he will legislate to compel charging points in new homes, supermarkets and workplaces in England, as part of his carbon-slashing plans.

The new legislation will create 145,000 new charging points per year and apply also to major renovation projects.

"We will require new homes and buildings to have electric vehicle charging points," Johnson told the annual gathering of the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI).

The move is a step towards banning new sales of diesel and petrol cars in the UK from 2030, as part of efforts to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is keen to 'green' Britain's economy away from fossil fuels to renewables
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is keen to 'green' Britain's economy away from fossil fuels to renewables POOL via AFP / Owen Humphreys

Johnson wants Britain to lead global efforts to transition to net zero in order to help the economy recover from pandemic fallout.

"This is a pivotal moment -- we cannot go on as we are," Johnson added. "We have to adapt our economy to the green industrial revolution.

"We have to use our massive investment in science and technology and we have to raise our productivity and then we have to get out your way."

There are currently about 25,000 charging points in Britain.

However, the Competition and Markets Authority regulator estimates that more than 10 times this amount will be needed by 2030.