Grants to retrofit or upgrade vehicles in Portsmouth CAZ

Portsmouth City Council is offering grants to drivers and businesses that will regularly need to drive through Portsmouth’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) to upgrade or retrofit their vehicles.

Portsmouth’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) launches in November 2021 and the most polluting vehicles will be charged. These include buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and heavy goods vehicles that don’t meet Euro 6 emissions standards (if diesel) or Euro 4 emissions standards (if petrol). Any drivers or operators of these ‘non-compliant’ vehicles can apply for the grant.

As part of the application process people will need to show evidence of how regularly they enter the CAZ, how long they’ve been trading for and details of their non-compliant vehicle(s). Anyone who successfully receives a grant can retrofit or upgrade their older, more polluting vehicle(s).

Portsmouth City Council has also appointed a dedicated team of engagement officers to help affected drivers and business owners with applications for grants, as well as answer any queries they may have.

Cllr Dave Ashmore, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Environment, said “It’s really important to make the air we breathe cleaner in Portsmouth, and we also recognise how important it is to support impacted businesses. Although a Clean Air Zone isn’t our preferred approach to improve air quality, the government have told us that this must go ahead this year.

“We’re pleased to offer drivers and business owners of vehicles that will be charged to travel in the Portsmouth Clean Air Zone the opportunity to apply for grants. This money will go towards upgrading or retrofitting older vehicles, so drivers and operators won’t be charged to drive through the CAZ. This will help make vehicles less polluting and improve air quality, not just in Portsmouth but also on the Isle of Wight. To find out more, contact a member of our friendly team for help applying for a grant.”

To apply for support from the Clean Air Fund and for more information about the Clean Air Zone and other air quality measures in Portsmouth, visit www.portsmouth.gov.uk/cleanairzone.