Greater Manchester is calling on Government to support its plans to ‘build back better’ and help to tackle air pollution as the city-region sets out ambitions for a green economic recovery.

The coronavirus pandemic has seen air pollution levels drop by 30% and road traffic volumes fall by as much as 52% across Greater Manchester as a result of the lockdown – and at the same time cycling journeys have increased by 42%.

To build on this, and give businesses across the city-region the support they need to prepare for the introduction of a Greater Manchester-wide Clean Air Zone as directed by Government, the Mayor is calling on ministers to financially support the city-region’s plans to rebuild the economy in an environmentally sustainable way.

The financial package would enable Greater Manchester businesses and transport operators to make the shift to cleaner vans, lorries, buses taxis and private hire vehicles.

The ask of ministers is made up of:

· £98m for a Clean Commercial Vehicle Fund for vans, HGVs, coaches and minibuses (increased from £59m).

· £16m for a Clean Bus Fund to support retrofit of the existing bus fleet. (Greater Manchester is also working with Government on additional funding for the replacement of vehicles that can’t be retrofitted with new, cleaner vehicles.)

· A £28m Clean Taxi Fund for taxi and private hire drivers and operators to switch to cleaner vehicles.

· A new £10m hardship fund – dedicated to small businesses and sole traders who could face additional financial concerns to help them switch to compliant vehicles.

· Funding for 350 new electric vehicle charging points, doubling the size of the existing Greater Manchester publicly owned charging network, and for up to 600 electric buses by the mid-2020s. (This investment would come from sources other than Government Clean Air Plan core funding.)

Greater Manchester local authorities are already progressing bold active travel plans after emergency funding was made available as part of coronavirus recovery, with their ‘Safe Streets Save Lives’ initiative. This has seen the creation of a new-look space for pedestrians and cyclists in Manchester city centre with the temporary closure of part of Deansgate to motor vehicles.

Plans for a Greater Manchester-wide bike hire scheme are also progressing, with the intention of offering residents a cost-effective, attractive and easy way to make short journeys.

Leaders continue to press Government for additional emergency funding to support Metrolink beyond 8 June, when the initial funding ends, and for a multi-year settlement for the Greater Manchester bus network.

Greater Manchester local authorities intend to consult on proposed taxi and private hire minimum licensing standards alongside the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan consultation, including a roadmap to when taxi and private hire fleets should be zero-emission capable.

Greater Manchester last month announced that plans to hold a statutory public consultation on the Clean Air Plan had been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The consultation will be held as soon as is feasible. A report on the consultation will be brought to Greater Manchester leaders when there is a clear timeframe for exiting lockdown and moving to the next phase of the coronavirus response. The delay to the consultation also means that the introduction of the Clean Air Zone has been moved back to 2022.

Read the full news release and the GMCA Report.