Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan to tackle nitrogen dioxide exceedances at the roadside

Like many areas across the country, Greater Manchester has high levels of air pollution on some local roads. It affects everyone’s health and is linked to early deaths.

Greater Manchester (GM) is under direction from government to develop a Clean Air Plan to meet legal limits for nitrogen dioxide on local roads in the shortest possible time and by 2026 at the latest.

The Greater Manchester proposed investment-led Clean Air Plan does NOT include a charging Clean Air Zone. 

The investment-led plan developed by all ten GM local authorities would bring air quality within legal limits by 2025 – faster than a Clean Air Zone – and without causing hardship to residents or businesses. 

If approved by government, the Clean Air Plan would use government funding already awarded to the city region for: 

• 64 zero-emission electric buses for the Bee Network to run in areas with poor air quality.
• Clean vehicle grants for all eligible GM-licensed taxis and private hire vehicle owners.
• Local measures to manage traffic flow and improve air quality on some roads in the centre of Manchester and Salford.

If the government approves the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan no vehicle would be charged to drive in a Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester.  

You can keep up to date on developments with the Clean Air Plan and sign up for updates at cleanairgm.com 

This page was last updated on 14 December 2023