June 2021 launch date for Birmingham CAZ

Birmingham's Clean Air Zone has been given an approved launch date of June 2021 by the government, following several delays.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow and Transport Minister Rachel Maclean confirmed the decision. Clean Air Zones aim to address all sources of pollution, including nitrogen dioxide and reduce public exposure by using a range of measures tailored to a specific location.

Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone will  mean that the owners of the most polluting vehicles, which account for around 25 per cent of the vehicles on Birmingham’s roads, will need to pay a daily charge to drive into or through the Clean Air Zone.

Birmingham City Council is providing a range of exemptions and financial incentives, with a total value of £35 million, to help residents, city centre workers and businesses prepare for the introduction of the Clean Air Zone.  

Waseem Zaffar, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, said: “We have been working closely with officials at the Joint Air Quality Unit and ministers to agree a new launch date for the government-mandated Clean Air Zone. Poor air quality remains a public health risk and a Clean Air Zone provides the city with an effective tool for tackling this issue in the shortest possible time.

“The majority of drivers on Birmingham’s roads will not need to pay the daily charge but if you do then you may be eligible for an exemption or one of the financial incentives. So, I would encourage everyone to check the Brum Breathes website today. And everyone can still play a role in improving the air we all breathe by trying to reduce the number of shorter journeys we make by car every day.”