On 30 November, 2017 the Mayor of London launched a new public consultation on the next phase of his plans to tackle London’s toxic air by expanding the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

The ULEZ standards would be applied London-wide for buses, coaches and lorries from 26 October, 2020 and for cars, vans and motorbikes (with limited exemptions) up to the North and South circular roads from 25 October, 2021.

The Mayor recently delivered the first phase of these plans by introducing the new weekday (7am–6pm Monday-Friday) £10 Toxicity Charge (T-Charge) in central London for the oldest vehicles. This runs alongside and on top of the £11.50 Congestion Charge (C-Charge).

From 8 April, 2019 the Mayor is introducing the second phase of his plans – ULEZ - 17 months earlier than planned. It will replace the T-Charge and cover the same central area, alongside and on top of the congestion charge, but it will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The daily charge for non-compliant vehicles will increase from £10 to £12.50 (for cars, vans and motorbikes) and £100 (for buses, coaches and lorries). Now the Mayor has set out his plans for the third phase that will, he says, deliver the health benefits of ULEZ to millions more Londoners by extending the Ultra-Low Emission Zone in 2021. This could affect 100,000 cars a day, 35,000 vans a day and 3,000 lorries a day.

Drivers of non-compliant cars, vans and motorbikes would pay the same £12.50 daily fee as the central London ULEZ seven days a week. Drivers of non-compliant lorries, coaches and buses would pay £100 a day.

Diesel vehicles that do not meet the Euro 6 standard and most petrol vehicles that do not meet the Euro 4 standard will have to take action or pay, making the ULEZ the tightest emission standard adopted in any major world city. The area covered by the expanded ULEZ would include all roads up to a limit of the North and South circular roads, but not the North and South circular roads themselves.

Photo: Buses, coaches, lorries, cars, vans and motorbikes will all be subject to the ULEZ regulations.