Overview/framework
Clean Air Zones (CAZ) bring together local measures to deliver immediate action to improve air quality and health with support for cities to grow while delivering sustained reductions in pollution and a transition to a low emission economy.
The UK government’s framework sets out the principles for the operation of Clean Air Zones in England. It provides the expected approach to be taken by local authorities when implementing and operating a Clean Air Zone. The document is here
Europe
There are hundreds of Clean Air Zones across Europe, some of which are seasonal, or applied when pollution reaches a certain level. Full details of all zones are here
United Kingdom
Latest update 10/1/20
Aberdeen – Proposed. Details in discussion, minimum standards Euro 6 diesel, Euro 4 petrol https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/roads-transport-and-parking/clean-transport-city
Bath – Forthcoming. Cars exempt. Minimum standards Euro 6 diesel, Euro 4 petrol. Non-compliant vehicles pay a daily charge of £9 for taxis and £100 for trucks, coaches and buses. Implementation expected late 2020. https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/bath-breathes-2021-overview
Birmingham – Proposed. Cars exempt. Plan submitted to government with implementation sometime in 2020. Minimum standards Euro 6 diesel, Euro 4 petrol. Non-compliant vehicles pay a daily charge of £8 for taxis and £50 for trucks, coaches and buses. https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20076/pollution/1763/a_clean_air_zone_for_birmingham
Brighton – In operation. All local buses must be Euro V in the LEZ area, which covers North Street and Western Road. https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/environment/noise-pollution-and-air-quality/air-quality-management-city
Bristol – Proposed. A formal proposal and outline business case were published in October 2019. The plan recommends Bristol becomes the first city in the UK to introduce a diesel ban for all privately-owned vehicles (in the city centre), alongside a charging zone for non-compliant commercial vehicles. Vehicles must meet the standards or pay a daily charge of £9 for taxis, private hire and vans, or £100 for trucks, buses and coaches. A car scrappage scheme would also be launched. The deadline for the implementation of the plans is March 2021. https://news.bristol.gov.uk/news/cabinet-to-consider-plan-to-improve-air-quality-across-the-city
Cardiff – Rejected. A proposed Clean Air Zone has been ruled out by the City Council. Instead it has produced an Outline Business Case for a £32m scheme on a range of measures to reduce pollution and congestion, with bus operators committing to running ultra-low emission buses from 2025, and revisions to taxi standards. https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/Parking-roads-and-travel/clean-air-cardiff/Pages/default.aspx
Dundee – Proposed. Details in discussion, minimum standards Euro 6 diesel, Euro 4 petrol. https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/a-low-emission-zone-for-dundee-we-want-your-views
Edinburgh – Proposed. Details in discussion, minimum standards Euro 6 diesel, Euro 4 petrol. http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/connectingplaces/info/8/about_the_low_emission_zone/16/low_emission_zones
Glasgow – In operation. Local buses in city centre core must meet Euro VI. Standards to be toughened from 31 December 2022 to Euro 3 for motorcycles, Euro 4 petrol cars, vans and minibuses, Euro 6/VI diesel cars, vans and minibuses, Euro VI for trucks, buses and coaches. https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=23025
Leeds – Proposed. Cars exempt. Covers city centre and large area to the north east and north west. Minimum standard Euro 6/Euro VI for taxis, trucks, buses and coaches. Cars exempt. Non-compliant vehicles pay a daily charge of £12.50 (or £50 a week) for taxis and £50 for trucks, coaches and buses. https://cleanairleeds.co.uk/
Leicester – Forthcoming. Local buses in city centre core must meet Euro VI by 31 December 2020. https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/policies-plans-and-strategies/environment-and-sustainability/air-quality/
London Low Emission Zone (LEZ). In operation. Cars exempt. Covers an area roughly inside the M25. Trucks and vans over 3.5 tonnes, and minibuses and coaches over 5 tonnes vehicles must meet Euro IV (PM). Vans under 3.5 tonnes and minibuses under 5 tonnes must meet Euro 3 (PM). From 26 October 2020 the standard for large vehicles is raised to Euro VI (NOx and PM) – the same as the ULEZ standard and charges for certain vehicles increase to £300. Small vans and minibuses are unchanged. Entry to the zone is permitted for non-compliant vehicles on payment of a daily charge ranging from £100 to £200 depending on vehicle type. https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/low-emission-zone
London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). In operation. Covers central London core in the same area as the Congestion Charge. All vehicles, including cars, must meet the standards or pay a daily charge of £12.50 for cars, motorcycles and vans, or £100 for trucks, buses and coaches. ULEZ standards include Euro 4 (NOx) for petrol cars petrol cars, vans, minibuses, Euro 6 (NOx and PM) for diesel cars, vans and minibuses. Euro VI (NOx and PM) for lorries, buses and coaches (NOx and PM). https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone
London Zero Emission Zones (ZEZ). In operation. The boroughs of Islington and Hackney have zero-emissions covering a small area (two streets each) where all petrol and diesel vehicles are banned Monday-Friday 0700-100 and 1600-1900. https://www3.hackney.gov.uk/ulev-streets
Norwich – In operation. Local buses must meet Euro III (NOx). https://laqm.defra.gov.uk/documents/Norwich_lez.pdf
Nottingham – In operation. Local buses must meet Euro III. https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/transport/public-transport/bus-partnerships
Oxford – In operation. Local buses must meet Euro V. Proposal under consultation in January 2020, that from December 2020 a small core of the city will become a zero emission zone (ZEZ), and be expanded to cover the rest of the city centre in 2021/22. Vehicles that are zero emission (ZEV) will have free access. Those that meet London ULEZ standards can access the zone by paying a daily charge.
The bus regulations are here: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20216/air_quality_management/208/oxfords_low_emission_zone_lez.
All air qulaity-related downloads are here: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/downloads/20052/air_quality
The ZEZ proposals are here: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/1288/final_draft_proposals_published_in_countdown_to_oxford_zero_emission_zone
