Clean Air Zones and air pollution
UK Clean Air Zones
The Government has instructed local authorities across the UK with implementing Clean Air Zones to improve air quality. Unlike a congestion charge, which charges every single vehicle to pass through a certain area, Clean Air Zones will only charge the most high-polluting vehicles to drive within the boundary.
Each local authority will choose which category Clean Air Zone to implement, the associated charges and the boundaries for the zone.
There are four different Clean Air Zone categories that local authorities can choose to implement:
- Category A: Buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles
- Category B: Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and heavy goods vehicles
- Category C: Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans and minibuses
- Category D: Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses and private cars. Local authorities can also decide whether to include motorcycles.
Birmingham has chosen to implement a Category D Clean Air Zone but will not include motorcycles.