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Clean Air Zone to launch from February and financial support measures roll out date confirmed

A map image highlighting the area inside the Clean Air Zone will apply in Sheffield. The area which charges is shaded in blue and goes around the Sheffield ring road around the city centre.
The Clean Air Zone boundary map

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

Clean Air Zone go-live date

From Monday, February 27, 2023 the Class C Clean Air Zone will begin charging non-compliant vehicles. Charges will apply to the following vehicle types that do not meet the 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

In light of the cost-of-living crisis, the potential incoming changes to taxi licensing in Sheffield, the current difficulties with buying a compliant LGV and volume of LGV applications expected to be processed, the Council has negotiated with Government to deliver additional temporary local exemptions from charges until June 5, 2023 for both local Hackney Carriage taxis and LGVs.

Private cars will not be charged.

Financial support launch date

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, details of the financial support packages will be available on the Sheffield City Council Clean Air Zone website Monday, December 12, 2022.

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

Cllr 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. While we are legally mandated by Government to introduce it, it is a scheme we completely support. 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 that this scheme will affect people and businesses in a variety of ways and we have successfully pressed Government for extra financial support in an effort to support Sheffielders to make this transition, recognising the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on our city. As a result, we have secured one of the best financial packages of any local authority.”

For info

  • The Sheffield-Rotherham Clean Air Zone is a legally mandated directive from central Government.
  • More information about the Clean Air Zone, such as where it applies, the charges and how to pay are available on the Sheffield Clean Air Zone webpage.
  • A Clean Air Zone is a defined area of a town or city within which certain vehicles with more polluting engine standards are charged for entering. It is not a congestion charging zone and, unlike some other cities, privately owned cars, motorbikes and mopeds will not be charged in Sheffield.
  • Vehicle owners can check whether they will be charged in Sheffield, and for other Clean Air Zones elsewhere, via the government’s online vehicle checker: https://www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones