Clean Air Zone
Air quality improvement measures in the United Kingdom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is an area in the United Kingdom where targeted action is taken to improve air quality.[2] A CAZ can be non-charging or charging.[citation needed]
LocationSee § List of Clean Air Zones
Launched5 March 2021 (in Bath)[1]
 Clean Air Zone traffic sign symbol | |
| Location | See § List of Clean Air Zones |
|---|---|
| Launched | 5 March 2021 (in Bath)[1] |
Whether a vehicle is charged when entering or moving through a CAZ depends on the type of vehicle and the Euro standard of the vehicle. The amount charged is up to the local authority responsible for the CAZ. Ultra-low-emission vehicles are not charged when entering or moving through a Clean Air Zone.
Classes of charging Clean Air Zone
| Class | Vehicle | Euro Category | Charge applies to vehicles below this Euro standard |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 Bus[a] Coach[a] |
M3 | Euro VI |
 Taxi and private hire |
M2, M1 | Euro 6 (diesel) Euro 4 (petrol) | |
 |
Bus[a] Coach[a] |
M3 | Euro VI |
 Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) [b] |
N2, N3 | ||
| Taxi and private hire |
M2, M1 | Euro 6 (diesel) Euro 4 (petrol) | |
 |
Bus[a] Coach[a] |
M3 | Euro VI |
| Heavy goods vehicle (HGV)[b] |
N2, N3 | ||
| Taxi and private hire |
M2, M1 | Euro 6 (diesel) Euro 4 (petrol) | |
 Minibus[c] |
M2 | ||
 Light goods vehicle (LGV)[d] |
N1 | ||
 |
Bus[a] Coach[a] |
M3 | Euro VI |
| Heavy goods vehicle (HGV)[b] |
N2,N3 | ||
| Minibus[c] |
M2 | Euro 6 (diesel) Euro 4 (petrol) | |
| Light goods vehicle (LGV)[d] |
N1 | ||
| Taxi and private hire |
M1 | ||
 Private cars | |||
 Motorcycles (optional) Mopeds (optional) |
N/a | Euro 3 |
List of Clean Air Zones
Operational
| Region | Type | Date of implementation | Scope | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath | Class C | 15 March 2021[1] | A wide central area | Reduced nitrogen dioxide levels by 26% in 2022/2023, meeting legal standards. | [3][4] |
| Birmingham | Class D | 1 June 2021 | All the roads within but not including the A4540 Ring Road | [5][6] | |
| Bradford | Class C+ | September 2022 | The area inside and including the Bradford outer ring road, extending to Shipley and Saltaire. | [7] | |
| Bristol | Class D | 28 November 2022 | A wide central area extending the North Somerset boundary, including the main route between Wales and Bristol Airport. | Originally planned as class B with additional diesel vehicle ban in parts of city centre between 07:00 and 15:00. Changed to class D due to government rejection. | [8][9] |
| Derby | Non-charging | 2020 | Traffic management measures on Stafford Street | [10] | |
| Newcastle | Class C | July 2022 | City centre, including bridges over the River Tyne and bridge approaches across the river in Gateshead | [11] | |
| Nottingham | Non-charging | 2020 | Retrofitting buses, regulating taxis, converting council-owned vehicles | [12] | |
| Portsmouth | Class B | 29 November 2021 | City centre area excluding port and naval base | [13] | |
| Sheffield | Class C | 27 February 2023 | Inner ring road and the city centre | [14] | |
| Southampton | Non-charging | 2020 | Retrofitting buses, regulating taxis, cleaner fuels and equipment at Southampton's port, cycling infrastructure | [15] |
Planned or suspended
| Region | Type | Scope | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Manchester | Class B | All local roads in the county | Taxis and private hire vehicles registered within county exempt for first 12 months. Under review. | [16][17][18] |
| Leeds | Class B | City centre | All roads within the boundary of the A61 and A63. Plans postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic in England. | [19][20] |
| Leicester | Class A | Plans scrapped. | [21] |
Other emission zones
- Greater London has a Low Emission Zone and an Ultra Low Emission Zone, covering the majority of the city
- In central London there is a Congestion Charge, a different type of charge for motor vehicles
- Oxford has a Zero Emission Zone in the city centre
- Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee each have a Low Emission Zone in their centres
| Region | Type | Start date | Scope | Notes/references |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | LEZ | 2008 | Covers HGVs and buses around the
Greater London area |
|
| London | ULEZ | 2019 (expanded in
2021 and 2023)[e] |
Covers all other vehicles in the same
area as the LEZ |
|
| Oxford | ZEZ | 2022 | Covers all non-electric vehicles in the city centre.
Operational 07:00 to 19:00 including Sundays |
[f] |
| Glasgow | LEZ | 2018 (expanded to
cars in 2023) |
Covers the city centre | [g] |
Notes
- Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) more than 5,000 kilograms (5.0 t) and carries 8 or more passengers.
- Goods vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) over 3,500 kilograms (3.5 t).
- Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) less than 5,000 kilograms (5.0 t) and carries 8 or more passengers.
- Goods vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) under 3,500 kilograms (3.5 t).
- the initial ULEZ covered the same area as the congestion charge zone before expanding to cover the areas within (but not including) the A406/A205 in 2021. This was later expanded to cover the same area as the LEZ in 2023
- First zero emission zone in the UK