Clean Air Zone in Manchester scrapped for EV network

A new plan for 117 lower and zero-emission buses to clean up the city’s air pollution means that a Clean Air Zone charging motorists will not go ahead. Instead, Manchester will benefit from an £86 million scheme in clean up the region’s air using low and no carbon emission vehicles. 

Greater Manchester has provided evidence that they can achieve compliance on air quality legislation quicker without laws on charging motorists, ruling out a Clean Air Zone in Manchester. The investment package includes £51.1 million towards bus investment, including 40 zero emission buses, 77 Euro VI standard buses and charging infrastructure, as well as £8 million towards supporting Manchester’s switch to cleaner vehicles.

Further funding includes £5 million for local traffic management measures, and up to £21.9 million for administration, delivery, monitoring, as well as other associated costs to support the transition to greener city transport.

Poor air quality continues to be the biggest environmental risk to human health, and the government has made some progress in reducing the emissions of some air pollutants. Latest data shows that emissions of most air pollutants have decreased from 2012 to 2022, with emissions of nitrogen oxides down 46 per cent, sulphur dioxide down 75 per cent, and fine particulate matter down 18 per cent. The government will continue to develop interventions to make sure everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced.

Air quality minister Emma Hardy said: “Air pollution is damaging people’s health and the environment. Its impacts are felt more by low-income communities, making health and social inequalities worse.

“To improve our health, wellbeing and the environment, we must improve air quality. Local authorities know their communities well and so they need to develop plans that are most effective for their local area, and I am pleased that Greater Manchester has found a clear way to reduce emissions without the need to charge motorists.

“I look forward to working with the teams across Greater Manchester as they put this important plan in place. Government will continue to take the actions needed to ensure everyone has safe air to breathe across the nation.”

The UK has legally-binding targets to reduce the concentration of nitrogen dioxide in the air to an average of no more than 40 micrograms per cubic metre annually, for both environmental and health purposes. 

Minister for the future of roads Lilian Greenwood said: “Having completed the groundbreaking Bee Network buses, Greater Manchester is making fantastic progress in building a modern, sustainable and truly integrated transport network.

“Manchester will be able to reduce pollution from transport without having to charge motorists, and new, cleaner buses will help Mancunians get around easily while still bringing down emissions across the city.

“We will continue to work with local leaders to create better connected communities, meet our climate targets and make Britain a clean energy superpower as part of our Plan for Change.”