A financial support scheme to upgrade or retrofit heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to comply with Greater Manchester’s clean air zone (CAZ) will open to applications this autumn.
Greater Manchester-registered HGVs will be able to apply for funding support from 30 November, if approved by the Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee next week (Wednesday 13 October).
The CAZ, launching on 30 May 2022, is a key component of Greater Manchester plan to tackle air pollution, which reportedly contributes toward at least 1,200 deaths per year in the city-region.
Greater Manchester has secured one of the largest support packages outside of London with £120m to help regional businesses, people and organisations upgrade to cleaner, compliant vehicles and avoid a daily charge.
Around £8m will initially be made available to help affected HGV owners to upgrade or retrofit their vehicles ahead of the CAZ going live next year. The first round of funding will aim to support Greater Manchester’s smaller businesses, sole traders and the voluntary sector and clean up the oldest, dirtiest vehicles.
Applications for HGV funding are proposed to open on 30 November to give those eligible and impacted by the CAZ the maximum amount of time to apply.
Greater Manchester lead for clean air, councillor Andrew Western, said: “The CAZ will be crucial in our wider plan to reduce vehicle emissions and clean up Greater Manchester’s air.
“We’re working hard to ensure we support as many affected vehicle owners as possible move to cleaner vehicles so they don’t have to pay a daily charge.
“The financial support scheme opens to HGVs in November, pending approval, and I’d encourage anyone who thinks they could be affected to apply early.”
Read more: Greater Manchester prepares for CAZ launch with ANPR camera rollout
Funding for Greater Manchester-licensed private hire vehicles and Hackney carriages, coaches, minibuses and light goods vehicles will launch at the end of January 2022, ahead of their inclusion in the CAZ from 01 June 2023.
The CAZ, which covers all 10 Greater Manchester districts, will not include private cars, motorbikes and mopeds.
The 10 Greater Manchester councils are under direction from the UK government to introduce the category C CAZ to secure compliance with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) legal limits on local roads in the shortest possible time, and by 2024 at the latest.
