FleetEx Join the Clean Air Zone Scheme in Greater Manchester as Accredited Dealership
In a few months, the way you drive in Manchester could change dramatically, but luckily, we’re here to help. We’re proud to announce that FleetEx is a vetted and accredited dealership within the upcoming Clean Air Scheme in Greater Manchester!
What is the Clean Air Zone?
The introduction of the new Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester is to tackle harmful NO2 pollution on local roads and decrease the risking risk of pollution-caused health concerns in the UK. A survey commissioned by the Clean Air Fund in 2020 shows that one of the top three health concerns in the UK is air pollution.
Since the government announced the introduction of clean air zones in 2015, they have over £220 million to give to local councils in the UK to put their own clean air zone into their communities.
The 10 local authorities in the Greater Manchester area have joined together to create their plan for the clean air zone and have £120 million to give to local businesses, people, and organizations through grants and finance options.
How do the Clean Air Zones work?
Cleaner Air zones are typically implemented in areas where the pollution levels are at a dangerous level. Clean Air Zones can be incredibly beneficial to public health, local economies and help to make cities more attractive and a safer place to live.
The new Greater Manchester zone, which comes into fruition on the 30th May as part of phase one, will be running 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and will be enforced by a network of 850 new ANPR cameras that can log your number plate if you’re not following the rules.
Clean Air Zones are areas that charge or penalize drivers based on their vehicle’s emission standards. Vehicles that have higher emissions are not allowed in the area or can be charged up to £60 every day they enter which means it has become a concern for most businesses that own company fleets or vehicles that drive through the area.
Knowing that this could cause major disruption, the council is using £120 million to grant and fund new vehicles for people and businesses. Changing them to ones that cause less pollution and are approved to drive in the Clean Air Zone.
That’s where FleetEx comes in! As a vetted and accredited dealership by the Greater Manchester scheme, we can supply Clean Air Zone compliant trucks and HGV for you or your businesses. If you’re wondering “Does my vehicle qualify for the grant?” be sure to take a look at their helpful vehicle and financial support checker.
Applications are currently only open for eligible bus, coach, and HGV drivers with other vehicle applications coming in due course. If you would like to find out more and understand the next steps of the process, you can find more details on the Clean Air Plan, here.
Other grants available
The areas that the Greater Manchester zone include are Wigan, Bolton, Salford, Trafford, Manchester City, Stockport, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale and Bury but there’s also a lot of upcoming and already existing clean air zones all over the UK including London, Bath, Oxford, and Portsmouth.
We’ve included some helpful links below in case you fall into any of these areas outside of Greater Manchester.
Portsmouth
The Portsmouth Clean Air Zone was launched on 29th November 2021 and has since improved many elements of the city from cycling and walking to electric vehicle charging. If you’re in Portsmouth and would like to find out how the Portsmouth Clean Air Zone scheme may affect your vehicle, you can find out more information on Clean Air Portsmouth.
Birmingham
Notably named ‘Brum Breaths’, the Birmingham Clean Air Zone will be invested £10.05 million to the Heavy-Duty Vehicle (HDV) Fund, designed to help support SMEs through the next stages of the Clean Air Zone. If you would like to find out more about the Birmingham Clean Air Zone financial incentives, further details can be found here.
Bristol
Bristol is also playing their part in preparing for the Clean Air Zone and also plan to provide financial support to drivers and businesses who are eligible to upgrade their current vehicle to one that is compliant with the scheme. They have agreed to a £42m package of support with the government, which you can read more about here.
Sheffield
If you’re located in Sheffield and would benefit from upgrading your vehicle, Sheffield City Council can provide up to £16,000 per vehicle towards a replacement vehicle, new or old. These include HGVs, buses, coaches, and minibuses over 3.5tonnes. For more information and how to apply, you can find more details here.
Ready to upgrade?
If you’re worried about the new zone affecting, you or your HGV business then make sure to check your eligibility and apply for the grant. Here at FleetEx, we can supply approved Clean Zone compliant trucks and HGVs, simply give us a call on 01530 449160 or email our team at info@fleetex.co.uk.