A financial support scheme to upgrade or retrofit Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) to comply with the Greater Manchester-wide Clean Air Zone will open to applications this Autumn.

Greater Manchester-registered HGVs will be able to apply for funding support from 30 November, if approved by the GM Air Quality Administration Committee this week. 

The Clean Air Zone, launching on 30 May 2022, is a key component of Greater Manchester’s green revolution, helping to tackle the problem of air pollution, which contributes towards at least 1,200 deaths per year in the city-region.

Greater Manchester has secured one of the largest support packages outside of London with £120m to help regional businesses, people and organisations upgrade to cleaner, compliant vehicles and avoid a daily charge.

Around £8m will initially be made available to help affected HGV owners to upgrade or retrofit their vehicles ahead of the Zone going live next year. 

The Zone – which covers all ten Greater Manchester districts – will not include private cars, motorbikes and mopeds.

Greater Manchester Lead for Clean Air, Councillor Andrew Western, said: “We’re working hard to ensure we support as many affected vehicle owners as possible move to cleaner vehicles so they don’t have to pay a daily charge.

“The financial support scheme opens to HGVs in November, pending approval, and I’d encourage anyone who thinks they could be affected to apply early.”