Greater Manchester marks major progress on investment-led Clean Air Plan

Significant progress is being made in delivering Greater Manchester’s investment-led, non-charging Clean Air Plan, with bus fleet electrification, clean taxi upgrades and local traffic measures being delivered at pace.

An update to the Air Quality Administration Committee next week (29 January) sets out that the city region is delivering all the measures agreed with government to meet legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), in line with legal requirements and without the need for a charging Clean Air Zone.

The committee will also be asked to agree that the ANPR cameras installed for the Clean Air Zone are transferred to Greater Manchester Police to help tackle serious crime and keep communities safe, after nearly 90% backed the plans during public consultation.

More clean buses on the Bee Network

Greater Manchester’s move to a fully electric bus fleet by the end of the decade is supported by £51.1m of government-approved Clean Air funding that is delivering:

• 78 additional zero emission buses: With 20 already on the roads and running from the newly electrified Bolton depot, and 58 more electric buses coming to key routes throughout the spring. This includes the 8 and 10 service from April and V1 and V2 from May.
• Depot electrification: Completed at Bolton depot, providing 24 new dual chargers and capacity for up to 98 electric buses. New chargers have also been installed on Piccadilly approach so that more electric buses can run on the free bus city centre service. These upgrades are in addition to electrification of other depots across Greater Manchester, including fully electric depots at Ashton and Middleton.

These measures ensure the Bee Network continues to support economic growth while reducing harmful emissions.

Hackney Support Fund launched to upgrade taxi fleet

A major £8m funding package to help eligible black cab vehicle owners upgrade to cleaner, compliant vehicles has officially opened, with 193 applications processed and £1.58m already committed in non-repayable grants. The scheme supports vehicle upgrades to zero-emission capable (ZEC) models, second-hand ZECs, or compliant Euro 4 petrol/Euro 6 diesel vehicles.

Greater Manchester is also considering establishing a fund to support private hire vehicle licensees to upgrade their vehicles to meet emission standards during the 2026/27 budget setting process.

Cutting congestion and pollution through local traffic measures

Several targeted local traffic interventions are also being delivered to reduce NO₂ hotspots and improve the flow of traffic:

• Speed reductions on A57 Regent Road, with signage being installed next month.
• Signal timing upgrades on the A57 Regent Road to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and cut stop-start emissions.
• Yellow box enforcement at key junctions across Regent Road and the A34 Quay Street corridor, with cameras going live from January and February.

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Leader of Bury Council and Clean Air lead for Greater Manchester, said:

“We are determined to meet our legal obligations and improve public health for all our residents. Since taking back control of local buses through the transformational Bee Network, we’ve been able to run cleaner and zero-emission buses on routes where they are most needed to improve air quality.

“This is about improving air quality in the right way. Our investment-led approach means we are on track to deliver cleaner air without a charging zone and without placing financial pressure on residents or businesses.

“Through the rollout of new zero-emission buses, alongside grants for black cab drivers to upgrade their vehicles, we’re showing exactly what an investment-led plan can achieve: cleaner air, modern public transport and a fairer approach for local people.”

Alongside delivery of the investment-led plan – which is fully funded by central government – proposals to transfer Clean Air-funded Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to Greater Manchester Police to help tackle crime received high levels of support from the public.

Almost nine out of 10 (89.7%) responses supported the plans during a recent six-week consultation. Camera data has already been used to help develop the Clean Air Plan and will continue to be used to monitor the efficiency of the plan in tackling harmful nitrogen dioxide on local roads.

Following confirmation that Greater Manchester will not implement a charging Clean Air Zone, nearly all the signage on local roads has now been removed. Remaining signage in Stockport and Salford will be taken in the coming weeks, with National Highways removing its signs by March, having repurposed one site on the M62 to signpost to Ladywell Park & Ride. The removal of signs has been fully funded by central government.

Visit cleanairgm.com to find out more about air quality in Greater Manchester.