Delay to launch of clean air zone for Greater Manchester

The launch of a clean air zone in Greater Manchester will be delayed after the authority reached an agreement with the Government.

On Friday, Environment Secretary George Eustice granted permission to delay the implementation of the authority’s clean air zone to allow plans to be reviewed.

The scheme, which had been due to launch on May 30, is aimed at lowering exhaust emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and will see charges for vans, minibuses, taxis and coaches.

A statement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: “Since Greater Manchester’s proposals were submitted in 2019 there have been a number of challenges, including the impact of Covid-19 on supply chains and the price and availability of second-hand vehicles.

“This has led the Mayor of Greater Manchester to request more time to achieve NO2 compliance and enable Greater Manchester local authorities to review their NO2 plan.”

It said a revised plan would be submitted by July to set out how the area would deliver legal levels of NO2 no later than 2026.

In a joint statement, Jo Churchill, parliamentary under-secretary of state at Defra, the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Councillor Andrew Western, Greater Manchester Combined Authority portfolio lead for clean air, said: “We have agreed to a short time-limited pause.

“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.”