Clean air zone launch date confirmed for Sheffield

Sheffield City Council has confirmed Sheffield’s Clean Air Zone will launch on February 27, 2023, with a roll out of financial support measures starting from December 12, 2022.

Once the measure is in force, charges will be levied against non-compliant vehicles entering the zone.

Charges will apply to the following vehicle types that do not meet minimum standards when entering the Clean Air Zone boundary:

• Taxis, including both hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, which are below Euro 6 Diesel or Euro 4 Petrol standards
• Light goods vehicles (LGVS) such as vans, campervans and pickup trucks and minibuses which are below Euro 6 Diesel or Euro 4 Petrol standards
• Buses and coaches which are below Euro 6 Diesel standards
• Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) which are below Euro 6 Diesel standards

Due to the cost-of-living crisis, the potential incoming changes to taxi licensing in Sheffield, current difficulties with buying a compliant LGV and the volume of LGV applications expected to be processed, Sheffield City Council has negotiated with Government to deliver additional temporary local exemptions from charges until 5 June 2023 for both local Hackney Carriage taxis and LGVs. Private cars will not be charged.

From December 12, 2022, financial support to assist those affected by the charges will be launched. Eligible businesses and residents may be able to apply for financial support to upgrade to cleaner vehicles.

The financial support measures will be available in the form of a grant, an interest subsidised loan or a mix of the two.

More information on the range of local exemptions available will be published on the Clean Air Zone website on 12 December.

Councillor Julie Grocutt, co-chair of the transport regeneration and climate policy committee, said: “The Clean Air Zone is a necessary intervention to protect current and future generations in our city from the effects of exposure to NO2 emissions.

“We are committed to doing all we can to limit the public health implications such as permanent damage to children’s lungs, strokes, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.

“We cannot ignore these damaging effects and must implement important schemes such as the Clean Air Zone for the benefit of our city.

“We understand this scheme will affect people and businesses in a variety of ways and have successfully pressed Government for extra financial support to support Sheffielders to make this transition, recognising the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on our city.”