A consultation on a new plan for a clean air zone (CAZ) in Greater Manchester will be launched next year.
Plans for a charging zone to improve air quality were postponed in February, to find a solution that was fairer to local businesses and residents.
Councillors, who approved the new draft plan this week, want the CAZ to be charge-free and use £120m from the UK government to give to the city region to fund vehicle upgrades, the BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
A Category C charging CAZ covering Greater Manchester was due to launch on 30 May 2022, and would have operated seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Non-compliant coaches and HGVs were due to be charged £60 to enter the zone, and taxis and private hire vehicles £7.50, with a temporary exemption for Greater Manchester-licensed vehicles until 31 May 2023.
Older vans and minibuses would have also received an exemption until the same date before being charged £10 thereafter.
Charges were due to be based on vehicles meeting certain emission standards – Euro6/VI or better for diesel engines, and Euro4 or better for petrol.
After the government agreed to postpone the scheme, it gave local leaders until July to create a new proposal by which Greater Manchester’s air quality must meet legal standards by 2026.
The new CAZ plan was submitted for government approval this week.
