Bradford’s clean air zone (CAZ) will go live on 26 September 2022, the metropolitan district council has confirmed.
Bradford Council has been directed by the UK government to implement a CAZ to achieve compliance with legal limits for air quality.
The government has directed local authorities to implement CAZs following legal action by Client Earth. Legal limits for air quality should have been achieved in 2010.
The latest monitoring data for Bradford shows that the legal limit for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is being breached at several locations across the district.
According to the council, the launch date allows IT systems to be fully tested and businesses more time to use available funding and upgrade their vehicles prior to the launch.
What’s more, it also provides Bradford district businesses and households more time to apply for local exemptions.
The Bradford CAZ will be a Class C+ CAZ, which means that commercial vehicles entering the CAZ will face a daily charge if they don’t meet the required emission standards.
The council said it has secured the highest level of funding for a CAZ of this type and is providing the most extensive exemptions programme of any CAZ in the UK.
Passenger cars and motorbikes will not be charged for entering the Bradford CAZ but HGVs, coaches, buses, LGVs, minibuses, hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are liable for the charge if they are not compliant with the CAZ vehicle standard.
The Bradford CAZ will cover the area inside, and including, the Bradford outer ring road (A6177). It will also extend out along the Aire Valley corridor, to include Shipley and Saltaire.
According to Bradford Council, any revenue from the introduction of the CAZ will be reinvested in further programmes in the district to reduce emissions.
This will reportedly include support for zero-emission buses, further help for residents and businesses to upgrade their vehicles, the development of hydrogen in the district and support for schools to reduce emissions in their areas.
Andrew Whittles, air quality director, Bradford Council, said: “The government’s framework of air quality monitoring, evaluation and modelling studies has identified a charging CAZ as the most effective method of reducing nitrogen dioxide and improving air quality in our district, as quickly as possible. And that is what Bradford has been directed to do.
“Road transport emissions are a significant source of poor air quality and health in Bradford and research shows that the largest health benefits of the CAZ will be felt by the most disadvantaged communities in the city.
“Every ward in Bradford will benefit from cleaner air. The number of non-compliant vans, lorries, taxis and buses will fall. As a result, air quality will improve across the district, both inside and outside the CAZ boundary.”
Bradford residents can apply for an exemption if they own a non-compliant commercial type vehicle for private use, such as vans, campers, motorhomes and horseboxes.
Bradford businesses are eligible for up to three vehicles being exempt, including self–employed and sole traders, which are also eligible for grants to help them upgrade.
The council said that over £30m of funding has been made available to help improve air quality and emissions in the district become cleaner, with 87% of taxis now compliant following £4m of EV grants to achieve a 25% electric fleet.
Furthermore, over 370 buses meet the Bradford CAZ standard, while 33 new electric buses will start running on busy routes next year.
Finally, some £7.4m in grants have been allocated to assist businesses to upgrade over 20% of all lorries registered in the district, with over 3,400 grant applications received across the various funding categories.
