Photo: London Mayor’s Office
Ultra Low Emissions Zone expanded throughout London
29 August 2023
by Christopher Carey
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has expanded the city’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) to all 32 boroughs.
The measure has sparked heavy criticism about the impact it could have amid the cost of living crisis but has also received support from health and active travel campaigners.
The expansion will see non-compliant vehicles driving into and within the zone charged £12.50 (US$15.73) per day, with a £180 fine for those who don’t pay.
“This is a landmark day for our city which will lead to a greener, healthier London for everyone,” said Mayor Khan.
“The decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide was a difficult one, but necessary to save lives, protect children’s lungs and help prevent asthma, dementia and other health issues.
“All the evidence shows that it’s clean air zones like ULEZ that are the gamechanger in a city like London when it comes to cutting toxic air quickly and meaningfully to protect people’s health.
“It’s thanks to the ULEZ that we are now set to get London’s air to within legal limits in the next couple of years, 184 years earlier than previously projected.”
However, the zone’s expansion has been mired in controversy, with protests from some residents, the vandalisation of ULEZ cameras, and a wider political impact.
Of the seven local authorities bordering London, only one has agreed to erect road signs warning drivers they are about to enter the ULEZ.
The expansion of the ULEZ by the Labour mayor was also blamed for a shock by-election loss for the party in the borough of Uxbridge and South Ruislip in July – which prompted the UK’s Labour leader Keir Starmer to ask Khan to “reflect” on the policy.
Expansion
Initially launched within the central London congestion charge zone in 2019, the ULEZ was extended in October 2021 to include the area inside the north and south circular roads.
Diesel cars and vans that do not meet Euro 6 standards (those typically bought new before 2015) and petrol cars and vans that are not Euro 4 or better (typically those bought new before 2006) do not comply with ULEZ and are subject to the fee.
Motorbikes that do not meet Euro 3 standards must also pay to enter or travel within the zone.
To help with the costs of changing vehicles, a £110 million scrappage scheme was launched in January 2023 with grants of £2,000 for cars and £1,000 for motorbikes – but was limited to those receiving means-tested benefits or a disability allowance.
This was then extended to all Londoners earlier this month, with an additional £50 million allocated.
Since opening the scheme up to all residents the mayor’s office reported a “significant spike” in the number of people applying for support.
No support has been announced for people living just outside London who regularly commute into the city, though, and many of the bordering councils have voiced their opposition to the scheme.
Martin Gough, the leader of Kent Council, said: “We’re not prepared to facilitate a scheme against the interests of our residents and for which the mitigation others in London have been offered, has not been offered.”
Who will be impacted?
The Mayor’s office has repeatedly argued that only a minority of vehicles will be affected by the charge, but has not divulged an exact figure.
A spokesperson from the Mayor’s office said only one in 10 cars driving in outer London isn’t compliant – though this is disputed by critics.
Figures reported by automotive services group RAC in March 2023 showed that more than 690,000 licensed cars in the whole of London were likely to be non-compliant, but this did not take into account other types of vehicles, or those that enter London from neighbouring counties.
A Freedom of Information request obtained by Cities Today found that as of 14 May, 2023, there were 635,700 licensed cars in Greater London which are likely to be non-compliant.
The Mayor’s Office has reported that as of August 28, 2023, there were 4,641 second-hand ULEZ-compliant cars available for £2,000 within 322 kilometres of central London, according to the UK’s main car website Autotrader. It noted this is one of many sites on which second-hand ULEZ compliant vehicles are available.
Despite criticism from some quarters, others have welcomed the scheme’s expansion.
Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive, Asthma & Lung UK, said: “We are pleased that the much-needed expansion of ULEZ is going ahead today, as planned. This is a milestone moment for public health in the city and cleaning up London’s toxic air.
“Schemes like ULEZ are proven to effectively lower air pollution – a public health emergency contributing to 4,000 early deaths in London every year. ULEZ tackles air pollution caused by vehicles quickly, and its expansion means a reduction in harmful air pollution for everyone.”
