Greater Manchester is preparing to submit an updated clean air plan after the controversial policy was paused.

Plans to introduce daily charges for taxis, vans, lorries, buses and coaches which do not meet emissions standards were put on hold in 2022, following a huge public backlash.

With the policy aiming to improve air quality in Greater Manchester, the borough-wide scheme was eventually agreed to be "unworkable" and a new plan has been 

The preferred plan would still mean that there would be no charges for any vehicle driven on a road in the city-region, as well as investment in new buses and a fund to help taxi drivers upgrade their vehicles.

Modelling shows the plan would meet a legal requirement to improve air quality by 2026 at the latest, rather than in 2025, as stated in GM’s 2023 submission to government.

An alternative plan that models a benchmark charging clean air zone in the centre of Manchester and bordering parts of Salford would not meet the legal deadline.

A key element of the proposed plan is investment in cleaner, electric buses, and latest figures show improvements in the Greater Manchester bus fleet is already helping to improve air quality. 

The revised Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan also includes updates to air quality modelling – the process of forecasting, understanding and managing future levels of air pollution. 

Using £86.7m of clean air funding that has already been allocated to Greater Manchester, the plan would use £51.1m for 40 new zero emission buses (ZEBs), depot electrification in Manchester and Bolton, and 77 new Euro VI clean air compliant buses.

There is no change to proposals that would see £30.5m made available to help owners of all eligible hackney carriage and private hire vehicles to upgrade to a cleaner vehicle and £5m invested in local traffic measures to better manage traffic flow – and bring nitrogen dioxide within legal limits – on Regent Road and Quay Street.

The updated clean air plan has been published for the Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee.

The committee is recommended to approve and submit the revised plan to the government’s Joint Air Quality Unit when it meets on Tuesday, October 1.

The government will decide what the final clean air plan includes.