Greater Manchester’s new Clean Air Zone was due to launch in spring, but due to several factors this will not be happening.
Instead, the project launch has been put on hold.
Some of the reasons given for the delay include the semiconductor shortage, supply chains, and the current state of the second-hand car market. These effects are making it difficult for local businesses to upgrade their vehicles to comply with the new rules and so locals feared being hit with daily CAZ charges.
The government and the mayor of Greater Manchester held a meeting to discuss the issues raised and have decided to delay the introduction of the new Clean Air Zone.
A joint statement from Jo Churchill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester and Cllr Andrew Western, GMCA portfolio lead for clean air said:
“We met last week and have had further robust and constructive discussions today to find a solution.
“Air quality is one of our biggest health challenges and we are all completely committed to tackling it.
“We have agreed to a short time-limited pause. We will work together to deliver, by the middle of the year, a plan for clean air for Greater Manchester, one that is fair to the businesses and residents of the city-region.
“We will deliver improved air quality as soon as possible, not losing ambition but ensuring we take into account the pandemic, global supply chain challenges, improvements already baked into retrofits and the scope as previously laid out.
“We will now work jointly to meet the Greater Manchester and Government requirements on clean air, as soon as possible, and no later than 2026.”
The scheme would be the largest of its kind in the UK, covering nearly 500 miles, and was intended to charge £60 for HGVs, buses and coaches, £10 for vans and £7.50 for taxis and private hire cars that did not meet the new regulations.
With the scheme on hold, we don’t have a new date for its launch, but we expect the review to take some time before a new proposal is released.
