Greater Manchester charging CAZ shelved

By Categories: NewsPublished On: Friday 24 January 2025

Thousands of clean air zone (CAZ) signs installed around Greater Manchester are now set to be removed, following the government’s announcement that it has accepted alternative plans to improve air quality in the city region.

A proposal by local officials to invest in cleaner buses and taxis has replaced plans to implement a CAZ which would have seen vehicle owners charged for operating within the region, following significant public backlash.

Previous plans would have seen HGV and coach operators whose vehicles fell below the required emissions standards charged £60 to enter the zone.

The new £86 million scheme, which will instead see 117 new lower and zero-emission buses introduced on the city region’s roads, has been rigorously assessed by the government’s transport and environment departments to ensure it will meet legal obligations to cut nitrogen dioxide pollution.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, said the success of the return to public control of the region’s buses via the Bee Network had been integral to convincing the government that the alternative plan was viable.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) welcomed the government’s announcement. It said it had long called for the introduction of alternative measures to improve air quality in Greater Manchester, in order to avoid small CV operators incurring additional costs.

Chris Ashley, RHA senior policy lead, said: “Tackling poor air quality must be a priority and we fully support that ambition.

“We’ve consistently campaigned for measures to support investment in cleaner vehicles and improve existing infrastructure, so we’re pleased that the Government and Greater Manchester is going ahead this way.

“This is a welcome boost to businesses struggling with soaring costs who operate there.

“We continue to call for existing charging clean air zones elsewhere to be closed down once legal air quality targets are met.”

The roads minister 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.”