The Government has confirmed that fleets and drivers will not face additional charges to drive into Greater Manchester, as a clean air zone (CAZ) charging scheme has been ruled out. Instead, the region will benefit from 117 new lower and zero-emission buses as part of an £86 million initiative to improve air quality.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Transport (DfT) reviewed an investment-led plan put forward by local councils and concluded that it would meet the legal requirements to reduce nitrogen dioxide pollution.
While other local authorities have found clean air zones effective for reducing nitrogen dioxide pollution, Greater Manchester presented evidence that it can achieve compliance more quickly without the need to implement charges. In addition to the new fleet of buses, traffic-calming measures will be introduced to further improve air quality.
The investment package includes £51.1 million for bus investment, including 40 zero-emission buses, 77 Euro VI standard buses, and charging infrastructure; £5 million for local traffic management; £8 million to help move Greater Manchester’s taxi fleet to cleaner vehicles; and up to £21.9 million for administration, delivery, monitoring, and other associated costs.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the Government announced in 2022 that Manchester's planned CAZ would be postponed to find a fairer solution for local businesses and residents
A ‘Category C’ clean air zone had been scheduled for Greater Manchester starting on May 30, 2022, which would have charged non-compliant coaches and HGVs £60 to enter the zone, and taxis and private hire vehicles £7.50, with temporary exemptions for Greater Manchester-licensed vehicles until May 31, 2023. After that date, older vans and minibuses would have faced a £10 charge.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “We are grateful to this Government for listening to Greater Manchester and for this vote of confidence in our investment-led approach to cleaning up our air. This is the right decision for Greater Manchester and it gives people here the certainty they have long needed.”