The expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone is set to reduce toxic pollutants and related deaths across the city.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was originally introduced to a small part of central London in 2019. However, it has now been expanded to cover the outer boroughs of the capital and an extra five million people.
The scheme aims to cut traffic emissions and air pollution by imposing a daily charge on vehicles that don’t comply with emissions standards. This charge has been met with some opposition.
However, Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, stressed: “I decided to expand ULEZ because experts believe it will save lives.
“It wasn’t an easy decision, but we cannot delay action when toxic air is linked with conditions like cancer and dementia.”
Where will the Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion cover?
The original ULEZ covers central London up to its boundary in the North and South Circular roads.
The expansion takes the zones up to the capital’s borders with other counties and authorities, including Kent, Essex, and Buckinghamshire.
The new area is 18 times larger than the current Ultra Low Emission Zone and will cover an extra five million people.
Commenting on the success of the central London ULEZ scheme, Khan said: “The evidence is quite clear in relation to the consequences of air pollution.
“It leads to around 4,000 premature deaths a year, children having stunted lungs forever, adults with a whole host of health issues from asthma to cancer, dementia to heart disease.
He added: “We have the ULEZ in central London and it’s managed to reduce the pollutants, the toxicity by almost 50%. A third fewer children were admitted to hospital with air pollution problems because of the ULEZ in central London.”
What does the expansion mean for non-compliant vehicle owners?
Those who drive in the newly expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone in a vehicle that does not meet minimum emissions standards will need to pay a £12.50 daily fee.
If this fee is not paid, drivers risk a £180 fine, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
In a bid to calm opposition to this charge, the mayor announced additional funding to extend a £160m ULEZ scrappage scheme to all Londoners with a non-compliant car.
This is helping clear London’s air by providing grant payments to successful applicants to scrap or retrofit vehicles that don’t meet the emissions standards and switch to cleaner, greener modes of transport.
Applicants with a wheelchair-accessible car or van can get up to £5,000, while drivers of a standard car can receive up to £2,000 to scrap their vehicle. Motorcycle riders can also receive up to £1,000 for scrapping their bike.
Charities, traders, and businesses can apply for larger grants to scrap, retrofit or replace a van or minibus.
This scheme will build upon the success of the last Ultra Low Emission Zone scrappage scheme, which saw the removal of more than 15,000 polluting vehicles from London’s roads.
