ULEZ expansion delivers cleaner air in London

Air quality across London has improved in the last year, following the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

A new City Hall report claims particle emissions (PM2.5) from vehicle exhausts are estimated to be 31% lower in outer London in 2024 than they would have been without the ULEZ expansion.

Alongside NO2 and PM2.5 reductions, the report says NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) emissions from cars and vans are also estimated to be 14% lower in outer London.

The biggest reductions in NO2 levels have been in central London (54%), according to the report, but there have also been reductions in inner London (29%) and outer London (24%).

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Today’s report shows that ULEZ works, driving down levels of pollution, taking old polluting cars off our roads and bringing cleaner air to millions more Londoners. 

“The decision to expand the ULEZ was not something I took lightly, but this report shows it was the right one for the health of all Londoners. It has been crucial to protect the health of Londoners, support children's lung growth, and reduce the risk of people developing asthma, lung cancer and a host of other health issues related to air pollution.   

“With boroughs in outer London seeing some of the biggest reductions in harmful emissions and London’s deprived communities also seeing greater benefits, this report shows why expanding ULEZ London-wide was so important."

TfL data shows that Londoners have continued to upgrade their vehicles to cleaner models with 96.7% of vehicles seen driving in London now ULEZ compliant, up from 91.6% in June 2023 and 39% in February 2017, when changes associated with the ULEZ began.  Van compliance in outer London is over 90% for the first time. In February 2017, just 12% of vans met the ULEZ standards.

The data also shows there were nearly 100,000 fewer non-compliant vehicles detected in London on an average day in September 2024 compared to June 2023, when the Mayor announced his plans to extend the ULEZ to outer London - a 58% reduction in non-compliant vehicles. 

If vehicles do not meet the ULEZ emissions standard and is not exempt, they need to pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive within the zone.

Drivers who fail to pay the £12.50 charge receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) of £180, although this figure is reduced to £90 if paid within a fortnight.

This applies to cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including five tonnes).

The ULEZ emissions standards are:

• Euro 3 for motorcycles, mopeds, motorised tricycles and quadricycles
• Euro 4 (NOx) for petrol cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles
• Euro 6 (NOx and PM) for diesel cars, vans and minibuses and other specialist vehicles.

Euro 3 became mandatory for all new motorcycles in 2007, Euro 4 for all new cars in 2005 and light vans in 2006, and Euro 6 in 2015 for cars and light vans.