Clean Air Zone
On 17 December 2015 the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced plans to create Clean Air Zones (CAZ’s) in in Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton by 2020 to improve air quality in those cities.
Charges will be introduced in these air quality hotspots to discourage the most polluting vehicles, such as old buses, taxis, coaches and lorries. Newer vehicles that meet the emission standards will not have to pay the charge, and private car owners will not be affected. This is intended to reduce pollution in city centres and encourage the replacement of old, polluting vehicles with modern, cleaner vehicles.
Local authorities will carry out scoping studies, then consult on the details of the zones. They will only be able to set charges at levels designed to reduce pollution, not to raise additional revenue.
Other measures may include the introduction of park and ride schemes, signage, changes in road layouts and the provision of infrastructure for alternative fuels.
The then Environment Secretary, The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP said, “We want to ensure people can continue to drive into city centres and by targeting action at the most polluting coaches, taxis, buses and lorries we will encourage the use of cleaner vehicles.”
On 13 October 2016, DEFRA launched a consultation seeking views on the implementation of Clean Air Zones in England and on the draft regulations, along with the associated impact assessment.
The consultation closes on 9 December 2016.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Air Quality Taskforce.
- Air quality.
- At a glance - Indoor air quality.
- BSRIA responds to UK Air Pollution Report.
- Construction dust.
- Environmental impact assessment.
- Greenhouse gas.
- Indoor air quality.
- Indoor environmental quality.
- Methane and other gasses from the ground.
- Ozone depleting substance.
- Radon.
- TSI Environmental dust monitoring system.
Featured articles and news
Tackle the decline in Welsh electrical apprenticeships
ECA calls on political parties 100 days to the Senedd elections.
Resident engagement as the key to successful retrofits
Retrofit is about people, not just buildings, from early starts to beyond handover.
What they are, how they work and why they are popular in many countries.
Plastic, recycling and its symbol
Student competition winning, M.C.Esher inspired Möbius strip design symbolising continuity within a finite entity.
Do you take the lead in a circular construction economy?
Help us develop and expand this wiki as a resource for academia and industry alike.
Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce
Risks of undermining UK’s energy transition due to lack of electrotechnical industry representation, says ECA.
Cost Optimal Domestic Electrification CODE
Modelling retrofits only on costs that directly impact the consumer: upfront cost of equipment, energy costs and maintenance costs.
The Warm Homes Plan details released
What's new and what is not, with industry reactions.
Could AI and VR cause an increase the value of heritage?
The Orange book: 2026 Amendment 4 to BS 7671:2018
ECA welcomes IET and BSI content sign off.
How neural technologies could transform the design future
Enhancing legacy parametric engines, offering novel ways to explore solutions and generate geometry.
Key AI related terms to be aware of
With explanations from the UK government and other bodies.
From QS to further education teacher
Applying real world skills with the next generation.
A guide on how children can use LEGO to mirror real engineering processes.
Data infrastructure for next-generation materials science
Research Data Express to automate data processing and create AI-ready datasets for materials research.
Wired for the Future with ECA; powering skills and progress
ECA South Wales Business Day 2025, a day to remember.
AI for the conservation professional
A level of sophistication previously reserved for science fiction.