Decision finally made on Manchester Clean Air Zone – but not everyone is happy

After years of uncertainty surrounding air quality plans and mounting public opposition, Greater Manchester’s long-delayed clean air strategy has finally taken shape.

The government has announced an £86 million investment in cleaner transport solutions, providing a much-needed resolution to a plan that has been up in the air since 2022.

The investment will focus on enhancing public transport with new lower and zero-emission buses, cleaner taxis, and traffic management measures aimed at improving air quality without the need for charging motorists.

Manchester Clean Air Zone scrapped

The original proposal to introduce a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) sparked a huge public backlash in early 2022, leading to the suspension of plans to charge drivers up to £60 per day for using the region’s roads.

At the heart of the controversy were the costs associated with the scheme—more than 1,000 signs and 400 enforcement cameras were installed at a taxpayer cost of millions of pounds, only for the plan to be put on hold indefinitely.

Under the original proposals, buses and HGVs would have faced daily charges of £60, while vans, minibuses, hackney cabs, and private hire taxis would have been charged £7.50–£10 per day to drive on nearly all roads within Greater Manchester.

The charges were scheduled to take effect in May 2022 but were halted after public outcry.

Manchester Clean Air Zone charges resolved

This week’s announcement, however, provides a new path forward, with local authorities now receiving government backing for a cleaner, investment-led approach that aims to achieve the region’s air quality targets without placing an additional burden on drivers.

Key Elements of the £86 Million Investment

The £86 million package is designed to clean up the region’s air through several innovative measures. The plan includes:

£51.1 million for Bus Investment: This significant portion of the funding will support the introduction of 40 zero-emission buses and 77 Euro VI standard buses. The buses will come with the necessary charging infrastructure, marking a major boost to the region’s clean transport network.

£5 million for Traffic Management: Local authorities will use this funding to implement traffic-calming measures that help reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality.

£8 Million for Cleaner Taxis: This funding is earmarked to support the transition of Greater Manchester’s taxi fleet to cleaner, lower-emission vehicles, further reducing pollution from transport.

£21.9 Million for Administration and Delivery: The remaining funds will support the administration, monitoring, and delivery of the plan, ensuring the effective roll-out of the initiative.

The package also allows local leaders to review and cancel any contracts related to the previously proposed Clean Air Zone, such as signage and camera installations.

This provides certainty for both local businesses and commuters who might have faced additional costs had the CAZ been introduced.

The impact of the investment

The plan is designed to achieve compliance with legally binding air quality targets, specifically reducing nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) pollution, without imposing additional charges on drivers.

The UK government has set legally-binding targets to reduce NO₂ concentrations to no more than 40 micrograms per cubic meter annually, and local authorities are tasked with finding the most efficient ways to meet these targets.

While other areas have opted for Clean Air Zones to tackle pollution, Greater Manchester’s innovative approach, focusing on investments in cleaner buses, traffic management, and cleaner taxis, will help accelerate the region’s progress toward cleaner air while keeping costs low for residents.

This move is expected to deliver significant environmental benefits, particularly for low-income communities, who are often the most affected by air pollution.

A waste of money?

The new plan for Greater Manchester’s air quality improvements may be a step forward, but it comes after what critics are calling a waste of taxpayer money. Despite the cancellation of the proposed Clean Air Zone (CAZ), local authorities and taxpayers are still facing the fallout from millions spent on infrastructure that now serves little purpose.

As of last year, nearly £100 million had already been spent on the Clean Air Zone initiative. This includes substantial investments in contracts for 1,309 signs and the installation of over 400 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras across the region. These signs, which were meant to inform drivers of the CAZ charges, have been covered with stickers reading “under review” after the controversial scheme was put on hold following a public backlash. With the cancellation of the scheme, the future of these signs remains uncertain, though transport bosses are exploring whether they can be repurposed for other uses, potentially saving some of the investment.

However, the ANPR cameras, which were a key element of the enforcement mechanism for the Clean Air Zone, present a more complex issue. While the cameras were originally installed to monitor and enforce the new charges, their future now hangs in the balance. These cameras are still operational, but local police forces have shown interest in taking control of them. Greater Manchester Police chiefs have already indicated that they want to repurpose the cameras for crime-solving purposes, a move that could offset some of the costs associated with their initial installation. A consultation will be required to determine how the cameras can be used going forward, but the transfer to police control is expected to be a relatively straightforward process.

Even though the costs for maintaining the cameras were initially intended to be covered by revenue from the proposed charges, the government has agreed to step in and fund the £375,000 a month operational cost for the cameras—an ongoing financial burden that continues to add up, despite the cancellation of the charges.

Additionally, local authorities are set to spend up to £21.9 million on the administration, delivery, and monitoring of the new air quality plan. This includes overseeing the rollout of the new buses, traffic management measures, and the infrastructure for cleaner taxis. While this investment is being positioned as a step toward cleaner air, many argue that the previous funds spent on the Clean Air Zone could have been used more efficiently had a more coordinated and less disruptive plan been implemented from the start.

Government and local support

The initiative has been praised by both national and local leaders. Air Quality Minister Emma Hardy emphasised the importance of local authorities developing tailored solutions for air quality management. “Local authorities know their communities well, and so they need to develop plans that are most effective for their local area,” she said. “I am pleased that Greater Manchester has found a clear way to reduce emissions without the need to charge motorists.”

Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, also expressed her approval of Greater Manchester’s approach. “Having completed the groundbreaking Bee Network buses, Greater Manchester is making fantastic progress in building a modern, sustainable and truly integrated transport network,” she said.

“Manchester will be able to reduce pollution from transport without having to charge motorists, and new, cleaner buses will help Mancunians get around easily while still bringing down emissions.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, shared his gratitude for the government’s support and expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the region’s plan. “We are grateful to this Government for listening to Greater Manchester and for this vote of confidence in our investment-led approach to cleaning up our air,” he said. “The success of the Bee Network is allowing us to remove a big weight of worry off the shoulders of people who need to drive as part of their job.”

A step toward sustainability

Greater Manchester’s clean air investment represents a shift toward sustainable transport solutions and cleaner air for the region. By reducing nitrogen dioxide pollution through strategic investment in public transport rather than implementing charges for private vehicles, the region is setting an example for other cities looking for environmentally friendly, cost-effective alternatives to Clean Air Zones.

With the full backing of the government and a clear roadmap for delivering cleaner air, Greater Manchester is well on its way to meeting its air quality targets while ensuring residents can continue to enjoy affordable and sustainable travel options.

To find out more about the Manchester Clean Air Zone plans, please click here