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New options for the Clean Air Plan are to be considered by the Greater Manchester’s Air Quality Administration Committee after the government permitted the city-region to delay the introduction of a charging zone for higher-emission commercial vehicles.
The committee will begin reviewing evidence and alternatives to the existing proposals when members next meet on 23rd March.
Plans to introduce a charging Clean Air Zone for commercial vehicle were delayed after rising costs of greener vehicles and supply chain challenges meant businesses in the city-region were struggling to comply with the planned changes, which had been due to go live on 30th May. The city-region now has until July 1st to agree a new plan to bring harmful NO2 air pollution within legal limits by 2026.
New options are being considered that will deliver required public health improvements, but without negative consequences for local businesses. Under review for the Clean Air Zone are:
- evidence to inform a new Clean Air Plan for Greater Manchester, including air quality and the vehicle fleet in the city-region
- package of preferred measures to achieve legal levels of NO2 in the air, including measures specific to particular locations
- preferred measures to improve air quality and their economic and equalities impacts
Cllr Andrew Western, chair of the Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee, said:
“We can now begin the process of reviewing the evidence and options available to Greater Manchester as we work towards a new Clean Air Plan, acknowledging the importance of bringing nitrogen dioxide levels within legal limits without creating financial hardship and risking jobs and businesses.
“We want the people of Greater Manchester to participate in the conversation leading to the development of the new Clean Air Plan and the committee will discuss an approach to ensure that the new plan is informed by targeted engagement with stakeholder groups and vehicle owners.”
Poor air quality in Greater Manchester, principally from road traffic, is linked to nearly 1,200 premature deaths in the city-region annually, and is a key contributor to asthma, heart disease and some cancers.
Prior to its review, funding for businesses to secure new or retrofitted vehicles compliant with the Clean Air Plan has seen organisations being the process of removing from the roads over 1,350 of the most polluting buses and HGVs.