Charging Clean Air Zones: Local Authority Plans

A detailed overview of authority plans* for charging Clean Air Zones (CAZs) as of wc. 23 November 2020 can be found in the table below.

Types of charging CAZ

There are four types of charging CAZ, which will be indicated on signs through the letters A–D.

A: Buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles

B: As above, plus Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs)

C: As above, plus Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs)

D: As above, plus cars

Location	Zone proposed	Current status	Further information
Basildon		Non-Charging CAZ, combined with other air quality measures (submitted to Defra March 2019). Council voted against the notion of introducing a Charging CAZ Discussions with Defra ongoing on alternative to the CAZ plan, pending a public consultation.	Essex Highways
Bath		Launch now scheduled for 15 March 2021. Charges: Taxis (Hackney Carriages & Private Hire), LGVs: £9 / day HGVs, coaches and buses: £100 / day A number of exemptions apply	Bath & North East Somerset Council
Birmingham		Launch now scheduled for 1 June 2021. Charges: Cars, Taxis (Hackney Carriages & Private Hire), LGVs: £8 / day HGVs, coaches and buses: £50 / day A number of exemptions apply Further proposals announced in early Jan for a total ban on cars driving through city centre TBC.	Brum Breathes
Bradford		Business case due for submission; Defra has provided funding for business case. A public consultation in early 2020 showed 66% of respondents were in favour of a CAZ. The Council is continuing to develop its proposals ahead of submission to Defra. Launch expected 2021.	Breathe Better Bradford
Bristol		Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and measures that have already improved air quality, the Council is now consulting on two new Clean Air Zone options Small Class D zone covering central city area Option 1, plus a wider Class C zone The consultation closed on 22 November – results pending.	Bristol City Council Clean Air for Bristol
Broxbourne	TBC	Hertfordshire County Council / Broxbourne Borough Council instructed by Defra to draw up plans for Charging CAZ on area surrounding a stretch of the A10 near Broxbourne. Decision pending.	Broxbourne Borough Council
Cambridge	TBC	Feasibility study on clean air measures published May 2019. Further consultation expected.	Cambridge City Council
Cardiff	TBC	Charging CAZ removed from air quality plan following public consultation. Welsh Government instructed authority to reconsider a charging CAZ, but has now agreed alternative non-charging clean air plans as of January 2020. However, Council is now considering a congestion charge as part of a wider 10-year transport vision for the city.	Cardiff City Council
Coventry	TBC	Directed by Defra to implement a Charging CAZ in May 2019. Council has now agreed with Defra to introduce alternative measures to reduce emissions.	Coventry City Council
Leeds		Approved by Defra January 2019. Charges: Taxis (Hackney Carriages & Private Hire): £12.50 / day. Minibuses (from 2022): £12.50 / day. HGVs, coaches and buses: £50 / day. A number of exemptions apply. Launch delayed until 2021 at the earliest. The City Council confirmed on 13 October that a charging CAZ was ‘no longer required’ to meet legal air quality limits in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.	Leeds City Council
Leicester		Draft proposal for CAZ submitted to Government; final business case was expected April 2020 for implementation in 2022.	Leicester City Council
Liverpool		Reported on 22 January that plans are currently being worked up by the council (alongside Defra) for a CAZ. Discussions with Defra ongoing for Class D zone. Launch would be 2022 at earliest.	Liverpool City Council Let’s Clear The Air
Manchester (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan		Launch date TBC (proposed for two phases: Phase 1: Buses, coaches, HGVs, Taxis and PHVs. Phase 2: Vans and minibuses. Launch has now been delayed until 2022. Consultation on the proposals has launched, with a closing date of 3 December.	Clean Air Greater Manchester
Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside		Charging Class D zone rejected after public consultation in July 2019. Consultation on alternative plans for a Class C zone closed 27 November, indicating widespread support. Council has backed the plan; Defra approval pending. Any scheme is planned for launch in 2021. Plans have been delayed due to legal proceedings regarding enforcement camera supplier. Launch now planned for ‘later in 2021’ at earliest.	Tyneside Clean Air
Oxford	Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ)	Single city centre zone proposed, with two launch phases. Pilot zone in heart of city centre planned for launch Summer 2021, with wider extension in Spring 2022 (based on further consultation). Final consultation on pilot phase underway until 17 January 2021.	Oxford City Council
Portsmouth		In July 2020, Defra instructed the council to consult on a Class B zone. A public consultation was run until 31 August 2020, with plans for a zone approved by the council 6 October. Pending Defra approval. Zone planned for implementation by November 2021.	Portsmouth City Council
Sheffield		Consultation for scheme backed by large majority of public on 23 March 2020. Launch date originally proposed for 2021. In September 2020, the Council announced that alternative measures to a CAZ are now being considered, following a 33% drop in air pollution during the initial COVID-19 lockdown period.	Sheffield City Council
Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Newcastle Borough Council	TBC	Defra has instructed the authorities to reduce levels of NO2 by 2023, with the potential for a charging CAZ. Proposals due to be submitted to Defra July 2021.

* PLEASE NOTE: This article is intended to track the development of charging Clean Air Zones in England and Wales, and is updated periodically based on information that becomes available in the public domain.

Any questions regarding a particular charging Clean Air Zone should be directed to the specific local authority, rather than PATROL.