Mayor's clean air plan with no charges backed

The region will not charge motorists as part of plans to cut air pollution

Plans to improve air quality in Greater Manchester by investing in cleaner buses and taxis rather than charging drivers have been backed by the government.

Local leaders put forward the £86m proposal in December 2023 after dropping plans for a charging Clean Air Zone (CAZ) like those in place in other local authorities due to public backlash.

Government officials have ruled the plan will see air pollution cut to within legal limits by 2026.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said the backing was a "vote of confidence" that would allow the region's shift to cleaner vehicles to move "further and faster".

He said the success of the roll of the integrated Bee Network transport system, where the region's bus network was taken back into public control, had "made the difference" in convincing the government.

Both the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Department for Transport had "rigorously assessed" the plan, a government spokesperson said.

They found it would meet legally-binding target to cut nitrogen dioxide levels

'No charge'

The investment plan funded by the government includes £51m for clean-air compliant emissions buses to run on the Bee Network, Greater Manchester's public transport system.

About £5m is earmarked for traffic management measure to improve flow on roads in Manchester and Salford, including Regent Road and Quay Street.

Meanwhile £8m has been pledged to help hackney carriage drivers and taxis move to cleaner vehicles.

But some, including the Manchester branch of the Hackney Drivers Association, have argued this is too little to pay for the upgrades needed to about 700 of the 1,100 vehicles.

Mr Burnham told BBC Radio Manchester he would meet with the trade to work out ways his authority could help.

The announcement means contracts of clean air zone signs and cameras, put up in anticipation of one being introduced, can be taken down.

Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood MP said the Bee Network had been "groundbreaking".

"It's great to see that Manchester will be able to reduce pollution from transport without having to charge motorists."