Sheffield City Council has announced that from Monday, 27 February 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

The Council says that, 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, it has negotiated with Government to deliver additional temporary local exemptions from charges until 5 June 2023 for both local Hackney Carriage taxis and LGVs.

Private cars will not be charged.

From 12 December 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 from that date on the Sheffield City Council Clean Air Zone website.

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.”

(Map – Sheffield City Council)