Transport investment drives sustained fall in air pollution across Greater Manchester

Newly-released figures show that air pollution dropped in 2024 in Greater Manchester, thanks to investments in cleaner transport, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has revealed.

In 2018, 129 locations across the city-region were found to have illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air. By 2023, this figure had fallen to 64 locations, while the latest figures reveal that in 2024, just 38 locations reported illegally high levels of nitrogen dioxide.

The progress made on improving air quality has evidenced the viability of Greater Manchester’s approach to tackling nitrogen dioxide emissions through investment in green technologies and public transport improvements. Plans for a charging Clean Air Zone for non-compliant commercial vehicles were halted in favour of an investment led approach, which has since been green-lit by government based on the city-region’s projections that it would reduce emissions more quickly than punitive measures imposed on drivers.

Investment in reducing the emissions of the transport network so fair has seen the introduction of more than 300 electric buses on the Greater Manchester Bee Network, with plans to fully electrify the fleet by 2030. TfGM is also modernising bus depots to support electric vehicles for the Bee Network. Depots in Bolton, Manchester and Oldham have already been upgraded with charging infrastructure, with Ashton recently becoming the city region’s first fully electric depot. Transformation at Middleton is up next.

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Leader of Bury Council and Clean Air lead for Greater Manchester, said: 

“We’ve always been focused on doing what’s right for Greater Manchester, and by accelerating investment in our public transport network, we’re showing that it’s possible to improve air quality faster than if a charging Clean Air Zone had been introduced.

“Investment in the Bee Network is enabling more people to choose cleaner, greener ways to get around – like public transport and walking or cycling – instead of driving.

“As we deliver our Clean Air Plan alongside the Bee Network, with support from the government, we’ll roll out the UK’s first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system by the end of the decade and improve the air we all breathe for generations to come.”

The next meeting of the Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee on 31 July will provide an update on progress to make the city-region greener. The meeting will confirm a range of additional measures to accelerate the reduction in air pollution/

It is anticipated that an £8 million Hackney Support Fund could open in November 2025, when eligible GM-licensed hackney carriage owners will be able to apply for proposed grants of up to £12,560 to upgrade to cleaner vehicles. This follows the launch of Greater Manchester’s ‘Backing our taxis. Local. Licensed. Trusted.’ campaign in April, which included a review of the approach to licensing and engagement with the taxi trade.

The Clean Air Zone ANPR cameras, originally installed to monitor pollution, have been used by police to help crack down on crime since the charging scheme was paused. A public consultation in September will ask residents about transferring camera ownership to Greater Manchester Police, allowing them to use the intelligence to solve serious and violent crimes. Meanwhile, councils have started to take down the Clean Air Zone road signs.