Newcastle’s £10m Clean Air Zone Grant Funding Remains Unused After Two Years
Newcastle’s Clean Air Zone grant funding of £10m is still unspent after two years, with many eligible drivers urged to apply for help.
Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, Clean Air Zone, Grant Funding
Newcastle: About £10 million for the Clean Air Zone is still unused. This funding helps people replace high-polluting vehicles with cleaner ones.
The grant scheme started over two years ago. It aimed to support drivers and businesses in upgrading to eco-friendly vehicles. However, most of the money remains unspent. Eligible owners can get up to £16,000 in financial help.
The program opened in November 2022, just before the first tolls began in January. The government provided £15 million to help owners upgrade to compliant vehicles like taxis, vans, and buses.
So far, only 1,141 grants worth £4.7 million have been paid out from 4,030 applications. Additionally, 608 applications worth £3.9 million have been approved but not claimed.
Some businesses criticized the original criteria for funding. Applicants had to prove they entered the CAZ at least twice a week for three months. Many small traders found this hard to document. The rules were relaxed in 2024, allowing more vehicles to qualify.
Coun Juna Sathian from Newcastle City Council said they’ve provided £4.7 million to help replace older vehicles. This funding aims to improve air quality in the city.
Gateshead Council’s Coun John McElroy also encouraged eligible people to apply. He wants more compliant vehicles in the Clean Air Zone to reduce pollution.
The CAZ charges older, non-compliant vehicles £12.50 or £50 per day. Private cars are exempt from these charges, which were introduced to tackle high emissions in pollution hotspots.
For more details on eligibility and how to apply, visit the Newcastle Clean Air Zone website.