In a bid to bolster efforts toward a greener future, the City of London has extended and enhanced its scrappage programme, initially launched in January, to tackle high emissions from vehicles within the city. The programme, which was initially allotted a budget of £110 million, aimed to assist specific groups like low-income individuals, people with disabilities, charities, sole traders, and small businesses. However, it has now been expanded to encompass all Londoners owning cars and motorbikes that do not meet the requirements of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
Under the updated scheme, Londoners with non-compliant vehicles will be eligible to receive a premium of up to £2,000 or the equivalent of €2,320. This financial incentive aims to encourage a significant shift towards cleaner and more environmentally friendly modes of transportation.
The expansion also targets commercial vehicles, with enhanced premiums for scrapping and retrofitting vans and minibuses, and their replacement with electric vehicles. Vans can qualify for premiums of up to £7,000 (€8,120), whereas minibuses used by charities can access up to £9,000 (€10,440) in grants. Additionally, the grant is doubled for wheelchair-accessible vehicles, providing a substantial £10,000 (€11,600) to promote greater accessibility and sustainability.
To fund this ambitious initiative, the budget for the scrappage scheme has been bolstered to £160 million (€185 million). However, specific details about the remaining available funds and the percentage of budget already allocated remain undisclosed. Nevertheless, Mayor Sadiq Khan’s office has highlighted that approximately 90 percent of the vehicles seen driving in outer London on an average day already comply with the ULEZ regulations. This suggests a promising stride towards cleaner air and a more sustainable urban environment.
The City of London’s decision to expand and upscale the ULEZ scrappage programme marks a significant step in the city’s commitment to combatting air pollution and promoting eco-friendly transportation options. By offering enticing incentives to replace old, polluting vehicles with cleaner alternatives, the authorities aim to foster a positive impact on air quality, public health, and the overall well-being of its residents. As the ULEZ continues to roll out from 29th August, the city envisions a cleaner, greener future for all Londoners.
