Our latest update on the Manchester Clean Air Zone

The Manchester Clean Air Zone has been an ongoing saga for the last few years, and it’s fair to say that there’ve been a few bumps in the road when it’s come to trying to get these plans off the ground. However, it now looks like we’re going to be getting the Manchester Clean Air Zone before the year is out.

To give you a very quick rundown of the Clean Air Zone plan, it was brought in to combat the dangerous (and indeed illegal) levels of air pollution across all ten local authority areas in Greater Manchester that have had a significant affect on people’s health over the years. This is especially true of vulnerable people, such as children, elderly people and those with chronic conditions like asthma, heart disease, stroke and some cancers.

It’s clear to see the reasons why the Greater Manchester Council is so committed to getting these plans underway, and according to the latest updates, they’ll be looking to get the Clean Air Zone up and running by the end of July 2022. Speaking of commitment to fulfilling a goal – here at Van Discount, our number one aim is to provide you with the best deals on new vans for sale, including Luton vans, curtainside vans, lo loaders. We can save you an average of 40% on the Recommended Retail Price of a new van (which can often amount to thousands of pounds!).

Right now, plenty of our customers are looking to upgrade their fleet to bring their vehicles more in line with the requirements of the forthcoming Clean Air Zone – so here’s the latest with it!

The original Clean Air Zone Plan

It’s certainly been no easy feat making the Manchester Clean Air Zone a reality. The original plan included a Greater Manchester-wide category C charging Clean Air Zone, where only the most polluting vehicles which don’t meet emission standards, would have been charged upon entry to the area. Understandably, a few major issues over the past few years have posed major barriers to progress, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, some significant vehicle supply chain issues (particularly for vans), and the current cost of living crisis – all of which have all made the original Clean Air Plan much more difficult to implement.

The plans have therefore been delayed, as Greater Manchester Council would have really struggled to comply with the legal limit for harmful nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) air pollution limit that was set out by the government. Ministers originally wanted full compliance by 2024, but as things stand, this goal would have inflicted significant financial hardship on those affected.

What’s next for the Manchester Clean Air Zone?

So where does that leave us? Well, after a review, the government has now agreed to lift the legal direction to achieve compliance with pollution limits by 2024. Instead, the government has given permission for Manchester to push back its planned compliance to 2026. As a result, Greater Manchester is now working alongside the government to deliver a new, updated Clean Air Plan by July 2022.

That’s the latest with the Manchester Clean Air Zone! So, what’s the latest with our fantastic van deals? Well, we’ve got over 30 years experience in commercial van sales, and we’re happy to offer our expertise to help you find the best van for the job. So whether you’re a fleet manager or a private buyer, we’ve got the vans to suit your needs. Call now on 01282 872 530 to take advantage of our expert advice and the best new van deals!