Manchester clean air zone launch date delayed

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has announced that Manchester's clean air zone (CAZ) has been paused to find a solution that is fairer to local businesses and residents.

A ‘Category C’ charging clean air zone covering Greater Manchester was due to be launched from May 30.

It would operate seven days a week, 24 hours a day. It would see non-compliant coaches and HGVs charged £60 to enter the zone, and taxis and private hire vehicles £7.50, with a temporary exemption for Greater Manchester-licensed vehicles until May 31, 2023.

Older vans and minibuses would also get an exemption until the same date but would be charged £10 thereafter.

Charges were due to be based on vehicles meeting certain emission standards – Euro6/VI or better for diesel engines, and Euro4 or better for petrol.

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 have agreed to a short time-limited pause [on the clean air zone]. 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."