The Scottish government is providing £5m to re-open the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Support Fund for 2023-24.
This fund offers cash incentives and ‘Travel Better’ credits, if non-compliant vehicles are removed from Scotland’s roads.
Administered by Energy Saving Trust, this programme is means-tested and was set up to help those most affected by the introduction of LEZs.
Heather Quin, senior programme manager at Energy Saving Trust, said: “With the current cost of living crisis intensifying, it’s more important than ever that lower-income households and small businesses continue to get the support they need to adapt and make the switch to low carbon transport.
“This funding has already helped many individuals, families and businesses adopt more sustainable travel options. With the re-opening of the funding, we hope to enable even more people to enjoy the many benefits that improved air quality and access to active and sustainable transport can bring.”
Read more: Scotland introduces low-emission zones in several cities
The scheme aims to provide people and micro-businesses with financial support to travel more sustainably and meet the established air quality standards, which will improve air quality and protect public health.
The LEZ Support Fund provides households and smaller businesses with a grant of £2,000 to incentivise disposal of a non-LEZ standard vehicle.
The fund will also offer up to a further £1,000 in mobility grants or travel credits to purchase a bike, e-bike or public transport vouchers.
Some £2m of the overall support funding will be designated to helping micro-businesses retrofit light goods vehicles, heavy goods vehicles and taxis through the LEZ Retrofitting Fund.
Collectively, these two funding streams represent the Low Emission Zone Support Fund – and both are delivered through the Energy Saving Trust.
Màiri McAllan, cabinet secretary for transport, net zero and just transition, continued: “Since 2019, the Scottish government has provided over £10m through the LEZ Support Fund.
“This has resulted in over 2,800 non-compliant vehicles being disposed of or retrofitted with cleaner technology, while enabling a shift away from cars and towards more sustainable transport options.
“Wider enforcement of LEZs are already underway in Glasgow, with Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh following in 2024.”
