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Applications for financial support for Greater Manchester-registered HGVs to comply with Clean Air Zone rules will launch on 30th November, with funding for other vehicles including private hire taxis launching at the end of January.
The launch dates were confirmed following a report to the Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee, with the Clean Air Zone for the city-region’s roads coming into affect on 30th May 2022.
The Clean Air Zone aims to reduce harmful NO2 pollution on Greater Manchester’s road network by levying a daily charge on the most polluting commercial vehicles; unlike a congestion charge, privately-owned vehicles will not be affected.
Businesses potentially impacted by the GM CAZ are encouraged to take early action and understand whether their vehicle is compliant and, if not, what the options are available to them, including financial support. Greater Manchester has received £120 million from government to help businesses retrofit existing vehicles or purchase new vehicles to comply with the rules.
Around 850 cameras and 2,000 signs are currently being installed across all ten Greater Manchester boroughs to enforce the new rules.
Businesses are now being invited to check their vehicle compliance using a new online tool on the CleanairGM.com website. A financial support checker will soon also be added to the website to help impacted businesses understand their options for support.
Financial support available to help GM prepare for cleaner air
GM has secured government funding to help local businesses, people and organisations to upgrade to cleaner vehicles through grants and finance options. Then their vehicles will be clean enough to comply with the Clean Air Zone.
Over £120 million in financial support is available to help the smallest businesses and organisations, as well as individuals, with the oldest and most polluting vehicles to upgrade to cleaner vehicles. This will include small and micro businesses, sole traders, those who are self-employed, charities and social enterprises and private owners.
In order to receive a grant and/or finance options to upgrade non-compliant vehicles, businesses, people and organisations will have to meet eligibility criteria. The criteria depends on the type of non-compliant vehicle being replaced or retrofitted.
The amount available as a grant or finance to replace or retrofit a non-compliant vehicle depends on the vehicle type and in some cases the weight of that vehicle.
In order to apply for grants and finance options applicants will need to meet specific criteria, full details of which will be available before funding opens in late November 2021.