A new report published by Transport for London (TfL) evaluating the most recent Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) scrappage scheme has found that it has achieved its primary aims.
With a total of 35,094 cars and 17,964 vans removed from London’s roads or upgraded to a ULEZ-compliant vehicle, nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from road transport are estimated to have been 36% lower across London in 2024.
This equates to a saving of around 3,400 tonnes – the equivalent of approximately one year of emissions from all passenger car trips in Los Angeles.
The report’s findings included:
- More than 53,000 older, more polluting vehicles were removed from London’s roads – 35,094 cars and 17,964 vans
- Air quality has improved at 99% of air quality monitoring sites across London since 2019
- Cumulative annual average emissions savings are approximately 160 tonnes of NOx, 8.5 tonnes of Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and 33,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) as a result of the scrappage scheme – equivalent CO2 saving of running 1,000 homes in a year
- Outer Londoners benefited most from the scheme, receiving 88% of the distributed funding
- The boroughs of Croydon and Hillingdon saw the highest number of successful applications, demonstrating strong local engagement in the scheme
TfL launched the London-wide ULEZ scrappage scheme in January 2023 to support the expansion of the ULEZ to outer London.
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TfL launched the London-wide ULEZ scrappage scheme in January 2023 to support the expansion of the ULEZ to outer London.
Initial funding of £110m was increased twice to £160m in August 2023 and then to £210m in January 2024.
Eligibility was gradually widened in response to uptake and feedback, to include small businesses, those in receipt of Child Benefit, and finally all Londoners with an eligible non-ULEZ compliant car or motorcycle.
Changes were also made to allow charities and eligible businesses to scrap or retrofit up to three vehicles.
TfL launched the London-wide ULEZ scrappage scheme in January 2023 to support the expansion of the ULEZ to outer London.
It followed the success of the mayor’s previous £61m scrappage scheme to support the introduction of the ULEZ to central London and expansion to inner London (October 2021), which led to more than 15,000 successful applications.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “ULEZ compliance is now more than 97%, bringing cleaner air to millions of Londoners.
“London’s air quality is now improving at a faster rate than the rest of England and we’ve also made a difference overseas, with hundreds of vehicles supporting the medical and humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
“I will continue to take bold, world-leading action to improve London’s air quality and the health of Londoners, as we build a better, fairer, greener capital for all.”
Achievements in sustainable transport planning will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector!
