Clean Air Zone Explained

See also: Low-emission zone.

Clean Air Zone
Logo Size:	100px
Location:	See § List of Clean Air Zones
Launched:	5 March 2021 (in Bath)^[1]

A Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is an area in the United Kingdom where targeted action is taken to improve air quality.^[2] A CAZ can be non-charging or charging.

Whether a vehicle is charged when entering or moving through a CAZ depends on the type of vehicle and the Euro standard of the vehicle. The amount charged is up to the local authority responsible for the CAZ. Ultra-low-emission vehicles are not charged when entering or moving through a Clean Air Zone.

List of Clean Air Zones

Region	Type	Date of implementation	Scope	Notes	References
Bath	Class C		A wide central area	Reduced nitrogen dioxide levels by 26% in 2022/2023, meeting legal standards.	^[3] ^[4]
Birmingham	Class D		All the roads within the A4540 Ring Road		^[5] ^[6]
Bradford	Class C+		The area inside and including the Bradford outer ring road, extending to Shipley and Saltaire.		^[7]
Bristol	Class D		A wide central area extending the North Somerset boundary, including the main route between Wales and Bristol Airport.	Originally planned as class B with additional diesel vehicle ban in parts of city centre between 07:00 and 15:00. Changed to class D due to government rejection.	^[8] ^[9]
Derby	Non-charging		Traffic management measures on Stafford Street		^[10]
Greater Manchester	Class B		All local roads in the county	Taxis and private hire vehicles registered within county exempt for first 12 months. Under review.	^[11] ^[12] ^[13]
Leeds	Class B		City centre	All roads within the boundary of the A61 and A63. Plans postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic in England.	^[14] ^[15]
Leicester	Class A			Plans scrapped.	^[16]
Newcastle	Class C		City centre		^[17]
Nottingham	Non-charging		Retrofitting buses, regulating taxis, converting council-owned vehicles		^[18]
Portsmouth	Class B		City centre area excluding port and naval base		^[19]
Sheffield	Class C		Inner ring road and the city centre		^[20]
Southampton	Non-charging		Retrofitting buses, regulating taxis, cleaner fuels and equipment at Southampton's port, cycling infrastructure		^[21]

Other emission zones

• Greater London has a Low Emission Zone and an Ultra Low Emission Zone, covering the majority of the city
  • In central London there is a Congestion Charge, a different type of charge for motor vehicles
• Oxford has a Zero Emission Zone in the city centre
• Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee each have a Low Emission Zone in their centres

External links

• Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions - Euro 6 vs Older Euro Standard Engines
• Carbon Monoxide Emissions - Euro 6 vs Older Euro Standard Engines

Notes and References

1. Book: Bath's Clean Air Zone: Annual report summary 2021. 16 June 2022. Bath & North East Somerset Council. Bath. 3. 27 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230827125918/https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Summary%20of%20Bath%27s%20Clean%20Air%20Zone%20Annual%20Report%202021.pdf. 27 August 2023. en-gb.
2. Web site: Clean Air Zone Framework. DEFRA and DfT. May 2017.
3. Web site: Bath's Clean Air Zone. Bath and North East Somerset Council.
4. News: Bath air quality improves since introduction of clean air zone . Barltrop . Paul . BBC News . 25 August 2023 . 26 August 2023.
5. Web site: A clean air zone for Birmingham. Birmingham City Council.
6. Web site: Clean Air Zone timing and charges | A clean air zone for Birmingham | Birmingham City Council.
7. Web site: Bradford Clean Air Zone to start in January 2022. BBC News. 2 March 2021.
8. News: Clean Air Zone start date finally announced . Cork . Tristan . Bristol Post . 6 July 2022 . 22 August 2022.
9. Web site: Rob. CHARGES. 2021-09-01. Clean Air for Bristol. en-GB.
10. Web site: Derby submit Outline Business Case to government which confirms no CAZ. Air Quality News. 5 March 2019.
11. Web site: Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan proposals. Clean Air GM.
12. Web site: Greater Manchester delays CAZ until 2022. Air Quality News. 21 May 2020.
13. Web site: GMCA 210621 Report Clean Air Plan. 25 June 2021. GMCA.
14. Web site: Air Quality. Leeds City Council.
15. Web site: Leeds Clean Air Zone suspended for the foreseeable future. Air Quality News. 19 August 2020.
16. Web site: Leicester CAZ plans scrapped. Air Quality News. 6 April 2021.
17. Web site: Latest delays to Newcastle Clean Air Zone pollution tolls 'condemning more of us to early deaths'. The Northern Echo. 26 July 2021.
18. Web site: GClean air zone proposals. Sheffield City Council.
19. Web site: Charging Clean Air Zone. Portsmouth City Council.
20. Web site: Clean air zone proposals. Sheffield City Council.
21. Web site: Clean Air Update. Southampton City Countil. January 2019. 6 November 2019. 6 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191106204225/https://www.southampton.gov.uk/environmental-issues/pollution/air-quality/clean-air-zone.aspx. dead.