The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today launched a consultation on proposals to expand the reach of Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) emission standards for HGVs to vehicles of this class operating anywhere in London by October 2020.
The consultation also seeks views on plans to expand the geographical area of the ULEZ itself for remaining classes of motorised vehicles - cars, light vans and motorcycles - by October 2021.
The Mayor has already announced that the Ultra Low Emission Zone will be introduced in central London over a year early in April 2019, replacing the T-Charge with an even tighter emission standard.
Sadiq Khan is now proposing to:
- extend the ULEZ tighter emission standards to the whole of London from October 2020 for heavy vehicles (buses, coaches, lorries and other specialist vehicles)
- expand the central London ULEZ up to, but not including, the North and South Circular Roads for cars, vans and motorcycles from October 2021.
These proposals aim to reduce harmful emissions across London and reduce levels of dangerous air pollution in the capital. It is part of a package of action the Mayor is taking to improve London’s illegally-toxic air quality, including increasing funding spent on tackling poor air quality (over the next five years) and cleaning up the bus fleet.
Alex Williams, TfL's Director of City Planning writes
Right now, air pollution in London is a public health crisis. Recent health data has shown 7.9 million Londoners - nearly 95 per cent of the population – live in areas exceeding the World Health Organization guidelines by more than 50 per cent. This filthy air contributes to thousands of early deaths each year in London, and impacts our health over the course of our lives, leading to decreased lung function in our children, and greater risk of dementia and stroke when we get older. 438 schools in the capital are currently in areas exceeding legal air quality levels.
The consultation will close on 28 February 2018.
