Greater Manchester Clean Air Financial Support Scheme application process
In March 2020, Greater Manchester’s ten local authorities were issued with a direction by government to implement a Class C charging Clean Air Zone across the region to achieve compliance with nitrogen dioxide legal limits on local roads in the shortest possible time and by 2024 at the latest.
On the 8 February 2022, the 10 Greater Manchester (GM) local authorities were directed by government under the Environment Act 1995 to (a) review the measures specified in the Clean Air Plan for nitrogen dioxide compliance and any mitigation measures and (b) determine whether to propose any changes to the detailed design of those measures, or any additional measures. The GM authorities must ensure (a) that the Clean Air Plan with any proposed changes will secure that compliance with the legal limit value for nitrogen dioxide is achieved in the shortest possible time and no later than 2026; and (b) exposure to the levels above the legal limit for nitrogen dioxide is reduced as quickly as possible. The review must be submitted to the Secretary of State by no later than 1st July 2022. This latest direction means that the March 2020 direction is now revoked.
GM has secured £120m of government funding to help eligible owners of vehicles which would be non-compliant in a Clean Air Zone upgrade to compliant vehicles. Government has said this funding will continue to be available for the new Clean Air Plan. Of this, GM has £7.6m to help eligible businesses, organisations and people who own HGVs switch to cleaner vehicles which meet the Clean Air Zone emission standards (referred to as compliant vehicles). This is available now.
To apply for funding through the GM Clean Air Financial Support Scheme, you will need to complete the application questions truthfully and accurately about you/your organisation and your vehicle(s). The answers to the questions will be used to evaluate your eligibility for financial support to help either replace or retrofit non-compliant vehicles so that they meet emission standards.
Financial support will be available as a lump sum grant, contribution towards vehicle finance, or a combination of the two. Funding will not be available to replace or retrofit all non-compliant vehicles. It will initially be targeted to support micro-businesses, self-employed people, sole-traders, charities, social enterprises and eligible private owners/registered keepers of a non-compliant vehicle. A second round of funding is now open to eligible small businesses.
Please apply as early as possible to have the best chance of being successful.
Before you start this process, you should find out if your vehicle is affected by using the Government Vehicle Checker.
If your vehicle meets emissions standards, it would not be subject to a daily charge to travel in the Clean Air Zone. If your vehicle is non-compliant, you could be eligible for financial support to upgrade your vehicle.
In order to proceed with applying for funding you need to complete an application for your organisation or as an individual and the vehicle you are applying for (you may complete up to five applications for five different vehicles). You will need to provide the following information, depending on your organisation or individual type:
- Contact details
- Organisation name
- Organisation registration information
- Business address or residential address
For the vehicle included on the application you will need to provide, amongst other things, the following information:
- Vehicle registration number (VRN)
- Vehicle identification number (VIN) from your V5C log book
- A readable scan or photograph of your vehicle's V5C document (log book)
Please note that in order to qualify you will need to ensure that your vehicle is taxed, insured and has a valid MOT. The information you provide will be checked as part of the process and you will then be informed if you and your vehicle are eligible to receive funding.
Register/Login
To apply to the GM Clean Air Financial Support Scheme, please register for a user account using the link in the top right of this screen.
If you already have an account, click on 'My account' in the top right of the screen to start or continue your application, or to check your application status. You can also access them here.
For further information, visit the Clean Air Greater Manchester Financial Support Scheme webpage.
If you are experiencing any difficulties reading this page, please contact the Financial Support Admin Team on 0161 244 1333 who can transfer your call to our Language Line