Due to their concerns about rising pollution rates, and the associated health risks, the government has tasked major cities across the UK, including Birmingham, to introduce a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) from January 2020.
What is a Clean Air Zone?
A Clean Air Zone is a targeted approach to improve air quality, by discouraging high-polluting vehicles from entering a certain area. There is no outright ban on vehicles entering the zone, but those that are not deemed to have clean enough engines will have to pay a daily charge to travel in that area.
Where are the Clean Air Zones?
Birmingham plans to introduce a Clean Air Zone covering all roads within the A4540 Middleway Ring Road (excluding the Ring Road itself) on 1st January 2020. Click here to see a map of this area.
Derby, Nottingham, Leeds, and Southampton are also introducing Clean Air Zones on the same date, and London has already introduced its own Ultra Low Emissions Zone (which is geographically identical to the Congestion Charging Zone area).
How much will it cost to drive in a Clean Air Zone?
If your business requires you or your workers to drive into a CAZ in a non-compliant vehicle you can expect to pay the following charges per day:
- Birmingham: £8 for cars, taxis and LGVs, and £50 for HGVs, coaches and buses.
- Leeds: £12.50 for taxis, and £50 for HGVs, coaches and buses (cars and LGVs are exempt)
- Derby: charges have yet to be confirmed
- Southampton: no charges will be levied
How will the Clean Air Zones affect businesses?
If your business is based within one of these Clean Air Zones, then you may see charges from your suppliers go up, as they mitigate the increased cost of deliveries and collections to/from your premises.
Retailers and other businesses open to the public who rely on passing trade, may also see a decrease in footfall in the Birmingham CAZ as private vehicles will be charged to enter this zone.
On the plus side however, the air quality should be cleaner and safer for you and your workers, and there is potential for a decrease in the amount of traffic during the rush hour, which may improve your commute.
How will the Clean Air Zones affect individuals?
Birmingham is unique in being the only UK Clear Air Zone which intends to charge private vehicles to enter the zone. If you wish to drive a non-compliant private car into the Birmingham CAZ you will pay a charge of £8 per day on top of your parking and fuel costs.
The prospective benefits to individuals include improved health, and less risk of developing pollution-related health problems in the future. However, there is also likely to be increased pressure on public transport, which may lead to overcrowding and therefore increased waiting times during rush hour.
How can you avoid paying Clean Air Zone charges?
To avoid paying to drive in the chargable Clean Air Zones your vehicle will need to meet certain criteria:
- Diesel & Gas Euro 6 (VI) standard or better
- Petrol or LPG added to original petrol engine Euro 4 standard or better
- Fully electric or hydrogen fuel cell
- Hybrid electric – the diesel/petrol engine must meet the relevant criteria above
- Fully electric or hydrogen fuel cell
If your vehicle does not meet the criteria, you might be able to make it compliant by fitting a retrofit technology. This must be approved by the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS).
If you cannot make your vehicle(s) CAZ compliant then you may need to upgrade your vehicles, avoid driving in the zone, or look to modes of public transport such as trains, buses and trams.
Are you concerned about the potential impact of the Clean Air Zone on your business?
If your business is based in a proposed Clean Air Zone, or relies on frequent travel within one or more of the zones, and you are concerned about the potential impact, why not get in touch with one of our advisors to discuss your options?