What is a clean air zone?
Mandated by the government to reduce harmful emissions from road vehicles, local authorities across the UK have been exploring a series of initiatives to improve air quality in pollution hotspots. As a result, several cities have now introduced clean air zones (CAZ), or plan to do so in the near future.
According to the government’s definition, a CAZ is an area “where targeted action is taken to improve air quality and resources co-ordinated in order to shape the urban environment in a way that delivers improved health benefits and supports economic growth”.
Each CAZ will be expected to fulfil a number of minimum requirements before being approved, such as establishing a clearly defined air-quality issue; supporting uptake of ultra-low- emission vehicles (ULEVs); and local authority leadership through own fleet use of ULEVs and procurement standards to support the zone.
CAZs can take the form of a non-charging geographic area that includes a series of air quality improvement measures and incentives, or the more widely-known charging model, where vehicles must meet an emissions standard or pay a fee to enter.
They are categorised according to the vehicles brought into scope in each plan (see below).
All CAZs would require a minimum of Euro-4 petrol or Euro-6 diesel vehicles
- Class A: Bus, coach, taxi and private hire
- Class B: Bus, coach, HGV, taxi and private hire
- Class C: Bus, coach, HGV, large vans, minibus, small vans, taxi and private hire
- Class D: Bus, coach, HGV, large vans, minibus, small vans, cars, taxis, private hire, motorcycles and mopeds (optional Euro-3)
What is happening in each city?
Since the government issued its mandate to local authorities to improve air quality, they have been measuring pollution levels, identifying hotspots and taking steps to reduce emissions.
For many, legal levels have already been brought under control or they are on track to achieve targets within the required timeframe; for others, full-scale CAZ plans have been developed.
Motor Transport has compiled a list of those councils still exploring CAZ options, with handy links to relevant local authority pages.
Local authority plans to date
Aberdeen: Looking to roll out an LEZ, in line with four other main Scottish cities, with enforcement expected from June 2024. Find out latest.
Bath and North East Somerset: Class C charging CAZ. HGVs £100 per day; vans £9 per day. Now live. Find out latest.
Birmingham: Class D charging CAZ. HGVs £50 per day; vans £8 per day. Now live. Find out latest.
Bradford: Class C CAZ. HGVS £50 per day; vans £9. Now live. Find out latest.
Bristol: Class D CAZ in city centre. HGVs £100 per day; vans £9. Now live. Find out latest.
Dundee: Looking to roll out an LEZ, in line with four other main Scottish cities, with enforcement expected from June 2024. Find out latest.
Edinburgh: Looking to roll out an LEZ, in line with four other main Scottish cities, with enforcement expected from June 2024. Find out latest.
Glasgow: Low Emission Zone (LEZ) now live. All vehicles must be Euro-4 for petrol and Euro-6 for diesel. You cannot pay to enter the LEZ with an older vehicle, but instead will receive a penalty charge notice if doing so. This is initially set at £60 (halved if paid within 14 days) and which will double with each subsequent breach of the rules (capped at £960 for HGVs). Find out latest.
London: Class D Ultra Low Emission Zone in place London-wide. HGVs £100 per day, vans £12.50 per day. Find out latest.
Manchester (Greater): including Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, Manchester and Salford - submitted a revised business case to government in July 2022, which did not include plans for a charging Clean Air Zone. Final decision not yet published. Find out latest.
Newcastle: Class C CAZ now live. The zone covers most of Newcastle city centre as well as routes over the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh Bridges. HGVs £50 per day; vans per day £12.50. Find out latest.
Oxford: Currently trialling a zero-emission zone pilot in city centre, between 7am and 7pm for all vehicle types. Chares are £4 per day for Euro-6 vehicles, or £10 per day for older vehicles. Find out latest.
Portsmouth: Class B CAZ. HGVs £50 per day. Now live. Find out latest.
Sheffield: Class C now live on inner ring road and city centre. HGVs £50 per day; vans £10. Find out latest.