From 30th May 2022, Greater Manchester will be introducing a Clean Air Zone 'CAZ'.
This new charging zone will aim to reduce harmful air pollution on local roads, making the region a safer environment for all.
The CAZ is designed to protect and improve the health of those living and working across the region by bringing down nitrogen dioxide levels within legal limits.
As a result, some of the most polluting vehicles on our roads - both commercial and passenger - will have to pay a daily charge to travel within the new CAZ. Any vehicle that does not meet emissions standards, and is therefore non-compliant, will pay a daily charge as follows*:
Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV's) - £60 (from 30/05/22)
Buses - £60 (from 30/05/22)
Vans (LCV's) - £10 (from 01/06/23)
Coaches - £60 (from 01/06/23)
Minibuses - £10 (from 01/06/23)
*Private cars, mopeds and motorbikes are not included in the Clean Air Zone.
However, drivers and operators are being encouraged to switch across to cleaner, compliant vehicles before the new CAZ goes live and therefore, avoid the daily charges listed above.
To support this transition, more than £120m of government funding will be available to help eligible businesses, organisations and drivers upgrade their vehicles. The Clean Air Zone Financial Support Scheme will allow users to either replace or retrofit non-compliant vehicles so they meet emissions standards.
Initially, funding will be aimed at small businesses, sole traders, the voluntary sector and private owners and will be structured either as a lump sum grant, contribution towards vehicle financing, or a combination of the two. The amount of funding available will be driven by vehicle type and size.
The Clean Air Zone Financial Support Scheme will open for applications from HGV drivers from 30th November 2021 with other eligible vehicle applications following in late January 2022. All applications will be made through a secure online account with applicants expected to provide information about themselves, their vehicle and business or organisation.
To see whether your vehicle will be compliant under the Greater Manchester CAZ, and check your eligibility under the Financial Support Scheme, click here.
If you'd like to learn more about the upcoming CAZ scheme, why not visit the dedicated Clean Air Greater Manchester site here where you can register for regular email updates, understand what causes air pollution, how it affects our health and much more.
The Greater Manchester CAZ will cover all 10 of the regional boroughs - Manchester, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Salford and Trafford.
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