Over the coming months we will continue to develop the Clean Air Plan with a range of residents, businesses and other stakeholders in Greater Manchester. We will open a public consultation on the package of measures in the new Clean Air Plan in early 2023.

This will mean the proposals consider the circumstances of affected groups and the possible effects of the Clean Air Plan on them. It will also help us to make sure that the new GM CAP is deliverable and effective.

Greater Manchester will also work with vehicle owners so that, where non-compliant vehicles are identified as contributing towards illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide in specific locations, any funding packages will incentivise upgrades to the cleanest possible vehicle. This will help reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions and bring health benefits as quickly as possible from every funded upgrade.

An investment-led, non-charging Clean Air Plan will aim to encourage upgrade to cleaner vehicles, leading to better air quality, by targeting financial support at category B vehicles, which includes buses, coaches, taxis, PHVs and HGVs. Funding is NOT proposed for vans, LGVs and minibuses (unless a minibus is licensed as a PHV), as these are category C classified vehicles.    

We are currently undertaking targeted engagement with key stakeholders, including vehicle-owning groups and other impacted individuals, such as community and equality-based groups. This important engagement process provides those impacted groups with an opportunity to feed into and shape the new Clean Air Plan Policy, including proposals for funding support and wider impacts. A public consultation on the new Clean Air Plan proposals will then take place in early 2023, subject to government feedback.  

Government has indicated that the £120m government funding already awarded to Greater Manchester for eligible people and businesses to upgrade non-compliant vehicles will continue to be available to support delivery of the new Clean Air Plan.

As part of the development of the detailed Clean Air Plan policy, it will be important to make sure the right incentives are given to owners of category B vehicles to upgrade through setting the correct eligibility criteria and providing funding at the right levels. 

An investment-led, non-charging Clean Air Plan will aim to encourage upgrade to cleaner vehicles, leading to better air quality, by targeting financial support at category B vehicles, which includes buses, coaches, taxis, PHVs and HGVs. Funding is NOT proposed for vans, LGVs and minibuses (unless a minibus is licensed as a PHV), as these are category C classified vehicles.   

The funding amounts and eligibility will be thoroughly explored through the participatory policy approach in the coming months. A public consultation on the new Clean Air Plan proposals will then take place in early 2023, subject to feedback from government. Please sign up for updates on the latest funding news. 

HGV and bus funding remains open to support people to upgrade and help deliver improved air quality.