The High Court has approved the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) across London, dismissing the challenge brought forth by five Conservative-led councils against the plans set by the Labour mayor of London. The mayor’s proposal involves imposing a daily charge of £12.50 on older, more polluting vehicles starting from 29 August.
In response to the court’s ruling, Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his satisfaction, stating that this decision marks a significant milestone in the effort to improve air quality in outer London.
However, not everyone is pleased with the outcome. The leader of Surrey Council criticized the verdict, labelling it as “incredibly disappointing.”
Mr Justice Swift, the presiding judge, deemed the mayor’s expansion decision to be well within his legal authority. In his written statement, he affirmed that the decision published for consultation contained adequate information, enabling those interested to respond with informed opinions.
The judge also expressed his confidence that the mayor had a clear understanding of the expected provisions when deciding on the grant to support the vehicle scrappage scheme. Despite acknowledging that the consultation process might not have been extensive, Mr Justice Swift declared it to be lawful.
Where is Ulez Currently?
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) was initially introduced in 2019, exclusively encompassing a limited area known as the congestion charge zone in central London. However, in 2021, its coverage was extended to include inner London boroughs such as Tower Hamlets and Southwark.
As of 2021, the Ulez has been in effect in the following inner London areas:
- City of London
- City of Westminster
- Lambeth
- Southwark
- Lewisham
- Greenwich
- Newham
- Tower Hamlets
And now, it is set to undergo further expansion, reaching across Greater London, affecting boroughs like Barnet, Upminster, Wimbledon, and Wembley. This extension will significantly broaden the scope of the Ulez’s impact on the city’s efforts to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
When and Where Will the Expansion of Ulez Take Place?
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), initially covering the area between the North and South Circulars, is set to extend across Greater London from the end of August, following a recent judgment. When first introduced in 2019, the Ulez encompassed the Congestion Charge area in central London and was later expanded in October 2021.
The newly extended zone will now reach areas in Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, and Surrey. The full list includes areas such as:
North London
- Barnet
- Edgware
- Edmonton
- Enfield
- Finchley
- Woodford
East London
- Barking
- Dagenham
- Ilford
- Hornchurch
- Romford
- Upminster
- Welling
South London
- Biggin Hill
- Bromley
- Croydon
- Kingston upon Thames
- Mitcham
- Sutton
- Wimbledon
West London
- Brentford
- Harrow
- Hayes
- Richmond
- Ruislip
- Southall
- Twickenham
- Wembley
To check if their vehicles comply with the emission standards, drivers can refer to the Transport for London website.
City Hall reported that approximately 90% of cars seen driving in outer London already adhere to Ulez standards, a claim supported by the UK Statistics Authority, despite criticizing the mayor for data transparency issues.
Mayor Khan acknowledged the challenging nature of the decision to expand the Ulez and reassured Londoners that their concerns are being addressed. The High Court’s unequivocal ruling now allows the city to take necessary measures to clean up its air and combat the climate crisis.
Will the Ulez Expansion Clean Up London Air?
According to independent experts Jacobs, who was commissioned by TfL, the expected impact of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) on nitrogen oxide emissions (coming from exhaust pipes) is likely to be “moderately positive,” while its effect on PM emissions (tiny soot particles from diesel engines, tyres, and brakes) is anticipated to be “minorly positive.”
In summary, the Ulez’s overall impact on the health of Londoners is projected to be “minorly positive,” as per the findings presented by the House of Commons Library.
Mayor Khan is optimistic about the Greater London Ulez expansion, stating that it could lead to a 10% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions from cars in outer London and a 7% reduction from vans.
It’s important to note that approximately half of nitrogen oxide emissions in London originate from road transport, while the rest come from various sources such as factories, construction sites, homes, offices, river transport, and planes.
Regarding PM particulates, roughly 31% of them in London result from road transport. PM levels can also be influenced by weather conditions, as particles may be blown in from mainland Europe. Mayor Khan believes that the Ulez could contribute to a 16% reduction in PM emissions from exhausts.
How Many Additional People Will Have to Pay the Ulez Levy?
Currently, approximately 35,000 drivers pay the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) charge daily. However, a new analysis reveals that nearly 700,000 drivers in London would be required to pay the £12.50 Ulez levy when using their cars after the Ulez scheme expansion.
The figures were obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC), which expressed concerns about the substantial financial impact this expansion would have on motorists and businesses.
Despite these figures, the London mayor’s office has contested the numbers, while Transport for London (TfL) asserts that nine out of 10 cars observed driving in outer London on an average day comply with Ulez standards. TfL estimates that about 200,000 additional drivers would have to pay the charge daily.
What makes the RAC figures noteworthy is that they present the total count of non-compliant cars registered at London addresses, including many homes already situated within the existing Ulez zone. The expansion’s potential implications on a wider range of vehicles and locations raise important considerations about its implementation and effects on London’s drivers and businesses.
Who Has to Pay the Ulez Charge?
If your car is equipped with a “Euro 4” petrol engine (built-in 2006) or a “Euro 6” diesel engine (introduced in 2014), you will be exempt from paying the Ulez charge.
However, if your vehicle is older, such as a petrol car exceeding 16 years or a diesel car over seven years old, you might be subject to the Ulez charge. To verify whether your car is affected, you can check your number plate on the TfL website.
Approximately 85% of vehicles within the new Greater London zone already adhere to the emission standards and, therefore, will not be required to pay the Ulez charge.
Has the Ulez Changed the Type of Car Being Used in London?
The impact of the Ulez expansion was quite significant. Before its extension to the suburbs in 2021, only 87% of vehicles complied with the emission rules, resulting in 13% of vehicles being subject to the Ulez charge.
However, a year later, the compliance rate saw a remarkable increase to 94.4%. This substantial rise provided clear evidence that the introduction of the £12.50 daily charge had prompted drivers to either upgrade their vehicles or avoid travelling into the Ulez zone altogether.
Notably, the number of diesel vehicles within the zone witnessed a staggering 63% decline over 12 months. This equates to approximately 50,000 fewer diesel cars being present in the zone daily. The data reinforces the effectiveness of the Ulez in encouraging the adoption of cleaner vehicles and reducing pollution levels in the area.
What Happens if You Don’t Pay the Ulez?
A £180 fine is being issued to drivers who fail to pay the Ulez charge, leading to significant debts for thousands of motorists. Transport for London (TfL) attributes this problem to the prevailing cost of living crisis.
It’s crucial to note that the Ulez isn’t restricted to London residents only; it applies to anyone driving into or within the capital in a vehicle that violates the exhaust emission regulations. This includes foreign drivers as well.
Basically, if you’re driving a more polluting vehicle in London, you will be subject to the Ulez charge.
To enforce the Ulez expansion effectively, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has proposed the use of mobile cameras to close “rat runs” outside London, where some motorists try to avoid the charges.
Regrettably, at least 200 newly installed Ulez cameras have been vandalized, raising concerns about Transport for London’s ability to enforce the mayor’s clean air zone effectively.
