Greater Manchester is introducing a clean air zone from 30th May 2022.

This is being brought into force in order to improve air quality across GM and is targeting vehicles which are the biggest polluters. At this stage private cars are not being included but all other vehicles are on the hit list.

If your vehicle satisfies Euro 6 Standard or newer your vehicle will be compliant. If it is an older vehicle which does not satisfy Euro 6 Standard it will be non compliant and you will have to pay a daily charge to travel within GM.

From 30 May 2022 the following vehicles which are non compliant will have to pay the following daily charge:
• Bus – £60 per day
• HGV – £60 per day
• Out of town Hackney cab or private hire vehicle – £7.50 per day

From 1 June 2023 the following vehicles which are non compliant will have to pay the following daily charge:
• Coach – £60 per day
• Van – £10 per day
• Minibus – £10 per day
• GM Hackney or private hire vehicle – £7.50 per day

To see if your area is affected, see here.

The charge applies to any vehicle mentioned above travelling within the GM Clean Air Zone, irrespective of whether you are GM based or whether you are travelling into GM from outside GM. Essentially this will operate like the London congestion charge and there will be 850 ANPR cameras installed to capture all vehicles travelling within GM.

Funding available to assist businesses with compliant replacement vehicles
If your vehicle is not compliant it may be worthwhile looking at replacement vehicles or retrofit to make it compliant, as this new plan will have a significant impact on any business that operates vans, HGV’s, minibuses or coaches. For example, one HGV that is not compliant, could cost an extra £18K per annum.

There is funding ringfenced to assist businesses towards acquisition of new vehicles or retrofitting existing vehicles.

This pot of funding opens from November 2021 for HGV’s with up to £16k funding, and then January 2022 for coaches, vans, and minibuses with various amounts of funding available from £4.5k up to £32k.

Clarke Nicklin are here to help
If you would like any advice or assistance assessing the impact that the Clean Air Zone charge will have on your business/vehicles, then we can advise and recommend how to apply for the appropriate funding available to you.

If you have any queries get in touch with your Clarke Nicklin Contact.
Alternatively, please call us on 0161 495 4700.