Andy Burnham releases plans for non-charging Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester

‘Compelling’ plans for a Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone that won’t charge motorists are being prepared to be submitted.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has now published an outline for the proposal on its website.

The Clean Air Zones (CAZ) are already in operation across the country, including in London, Birmingham and Bristol, and are in place to improve air quality by cutting emissions. The zones issue charges for motorists entering them if their vehicle doesn’t meet emissions standards.

The zones are signposted and have an image of a cloud with a ‘D’ inside. You can also check on an up-to-date or online map if you entered a CAZ. Motorists can pre-pay or have up to six days to pay the charge after driving through one, or face a hefty fine.

Greater Manchester’s CAZ was originally going to hand motorists up to £60 charges when entering a zone, for some of the most polluting vehicles.

However, the scheme was put on hold and referred back to the government for ‘urgent review’ back in January 2022.

Boris Johnson, who was Prime Minister at the time, decided the scheme was ‘completely unworkable’ for the region and so the government put a hold on the plans.

GMCA decided to set out evidence supporting an investment-led, non-charging CAZ back in June 2022, saying it was the ‘best solution’ that would still address the issue of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution.

The new non-charging proposal aims to cut air pollution in the region to within legal limits by a 2026 deadline.

Plans have been shared with the public ahead of the report being submitted to the Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee – which will meet with the government on December 20th.

After the plans are submitted, a decision over whether it will move forward will be made by the government. Mr Burnham said modelling had shown that ‘only the investment-led plan’ could meet the legal pollution target by 2026, rather than a charging zone.

The investment plan means more emissions would be cut by spending £86m on electric buses, taxi upgrades and traffic measures on some roads in the centre of Manchester and Salford – by building on the launch of the new Bee Network, and using clean air funding already awarded by the government.

Mr Burnham explained that ‘cleaning up the air that people breathe is a priority for Greater Manchester’ that has already begun with the introduction of the Bee Network and he stressed that the new plans would clean up Greater Manchester’s air quality ‘without causing hardship to our residents or businesses’. 

“By accelerating investment in the Bee Network to create a London-style integrated public transport network, and upgrading GM-licensed taxis, we can improve air quality faster than if we introduced a Clean Air Zone,” he said.

“I’d also ask the Government to urgently consider allowing Greater Manchester local authorities to remove charging Clean Air Zone signs.

“Modelling shows that only Greater Manchester’s investment-led plan can meet the legal test placed on the 10 councils to deliver compliance in the shortest possible time and by 2026 at the latest.”

GMCA says once it’s had full formal government feedback on the proposed Clean Air Plan, it will ‘consider timescales’ for a public consultation for local residents to have their say.

To find out more about the GMCA’s plans, click HERE.