City-region sets out plans for non-charging Clean Air Zone

Greater Manchester leaders have set out plans to reduce air pollution in the city-region through a non-charging Clean Air Zone.

New modelling by the city-region provides the evidence that harmful NOx air pollution can be reduced more effectively without charging drivers than through a previously proposed daily charge on the most polluting commercial vehicles. A previous scheme had been planned to come into effect early 2022, but was withdrawn by local leaders owing to issues with the supply of compliant vehicles. Greater Manchester is compelled by law to bring in measures to reduce air pollution by 2026, with the Westminster government preferring a charging system.

New proposals, which will be set out before the Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee, will build on existing clean air funding and expansion of the Bee Network. Greater Manchester’s proposal includes a £51.2 million investment in zero-emission electric buses for the Bee Network, £30.5 million to fund grants for cleaner taxis, and £5 million for measures to manage traffic flow on some roads in the centre of Manchester and Salford.

Local leaders are now preparing to submit evidence to government in December in support of their preferred investment-led, non-charging plan, benchmarked against a charging Clean Air Zone in the centre of Manchester and Salford.

Greater Manchester’s preferred plan would mean that no vehicle would be charged to drive in a Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester. Modelling shows this would bring air quality within legal limits for nitrogen dioxide on local roads in 2025. Modelling of a charging Clean Air Zone in the centre of Manchester and Salford, however, shows it would not achieve compliance by 2026.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

“Cleaning up the air that people breathe is a priority for Greater Manchester and we have already started to do that through investment in the Bee Network, which saw the first buses brought back under local control in September.

“By accelerating investment in the Bee Network to create a London-style integrated public transport network, and upgrading GM-licensed taxis, we can improve air quality faster than if we introduced a Clean Air Zone, and without causing hardship to our residents or businesses.

“Since the first bus services came under local control, we have listened to feedback to make improvements and deliver change and are already seeing the benefits the Bee Network brings, with more people getting on board with lower fares under a locally controlled service, with new, state-of-the-art electric buses.

“I’d also ask government to urgently consider allowing Greater Manchester local authorities to remove charging Clean Air Zone signs, as modelling shows that only Greater Manchester’s investment-led plan can meet the legal test placed on the 10 councils to deliver compliance in the shortest possible time and by 2026 at the latest.”