FOI - ULEZ inner and outer zones [Nov 2022]

You requested

ULEZ inner zone (existing)

• What external professional advice and sources were used in the decision to implement the original ULEZ in April 2019?
• What factors led to the decision to expand the ULEZ to include all inner London Boroughs, in October 2021?
• How much has been collected in ULEZ charges in the years to April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022?
• Please provide traffic statistics for the ULEZ zone in the years ending April 2019, April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022 (with details of sampling methodology)
• Please provide pollution statistics for the ULEZ zone in the years ending April 2019, April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022 (with details of sampling methodology)

Proposed ULEZ extension area (outer London Boroughs)

• What are the objectives for the ULEZ extension, in order of importance?
• Please provide traffic statistics for the proposed extended ULEZ zone in the years ending April 2019, April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022 (with details of sampling methodology)
• Please provide pollution statistics for the proposed extended ULEZ zone in the years ending April 2019, April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022
• How many vehicles registered to addresses in the outer London boroughs will be subject to ULEZ charging under the new proposals?
• What is the anticipated reduction in vehicle miles that will result from the ULEZ extension? What is this as a percentage of the current total?
• What is the anticipated reduction in total vehicle emissions by type (carbon, nitrous oxide etc), that will result from the ULEZ extension?
• What is this as a percentage of the current total?
• What is the anticipated ULEZ charging revenue in year one from a) vehicles registered in the extended zone and b) other vehicles?
• What are the budgeted costs of implementation of the extended ULEZ zone?

Our response

Existing ULEZ

• What external professional advice and sources were used in the decision to implement the original ULEZ in April 2019?
• What factors led to the decision to expand the ULEZ to include all inner London Boroughs, in October 2021?

The Mayor confirmed his decision to expand the ULEZ from central London up to, but not including, the North and South Circular Roads on 6 June 2018 following a public consultation that ran from 30 November 2017 to 28 February 2018. The Mayoral Decision sets out the rationale for the Mayor’s decision and includes reference to the materials and evidence that informed it. You can read the decision and supporting appendices on the GLA website: MD2305 Changes to the Londonwide Low Emission Zone & expansion of ULEZ | London City Hall.

• How much has been collected in ULEZ charges in the years to April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022

Transport for London (TfL) publishes quarterly ULEZ factsheets that are available in the Finance, Operations and Performance section of its website at: Ultra Low Emission Zone - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk). These factsheets include the number of charges paid and penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued per month.

TfL publishes details of income from all road user charging schemes, including the ULEZ, in its Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, which is available on the TfL website at: Annual Report - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk). Expected income for future years is published in TfL’s Budget, Business Plan and Financial Sustainability Plan which is available here: Budget and Business Plan - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk).

• Please provide traffic statistics for the ULEZ zone in the years ending April 2019, April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022 (with details of sampling methodology)
• Please provide pollution statistics for the ULEZ zone in the years ending April 2019, April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022 (with details of sampling methodology)

The GLA regularly reports on air quality trends in London, including evaluating the impact of the ULEZ on London’s air quality. This reporting uses data from the city’s air quality monitoring network to analyse the long term trends in pollution concentrations and well as estimating the impacts of the scheme. The most recent modelling is the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (LAEI) 2019. The LAEI summary note includes maps of pollution levels across the city. You can access the data on the London Datastore: London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (LAEI) 2019 - London Datastore

The GLA has published a series of reports evaluating the impact of the central ULEZ and the expanded ULEZ. The latest report was published in July 2022 and includes pollution and vehicle composition data as well as early estimates for traffic impacts up to May 2022. You can read the report on the GLA website and find links to earlier reports within: Expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone Six Month Report | London City Hall.

Proposed London-wide ULEZ expansion

• What are the objectives for the ULEZ extension, in order of importance?
• Please provide traffic statistics for the proposed extended ULEZ zone in the years ending April 2019, April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022 (with details of sampling methodology)
• Please provide pollution statistics for the proposed extended ULEZ zone in the years ending April 2019, April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022
• How many vehicles registered to addresses in the outer London boroughs will be subject to ULEZ charging under the new proposals?
• What is the anticipated reduction in vehicle miles that will result from the ULEZ extension? What is this as a percentage of the current total?
• What is the anticipated reduction in total vehicle emissions by type (carbon, nitrous oxide etc), that will result from the ULEZ extension?
• What is this as a percentage of the current total? What are the expected financial and other impacts on residents of the extended zone?
• What are the expected financial and other impacts on businesses? 
• How many extra public transport journeys (ie one way) are expected in year 1, replacing private vehicle use? What percentage is this of all public transport journeys on present numbers?

From 20 May to 29 July 2022, TfL ran a public consultation on proposals to expand the ULEZ London-wide. The aims, rationale, evidence base, and expected outcomes of the proposals are set out in the key consultation documents (including the independent Integrated Impact Assessment and detailed overview of the proposals) available on TfL’s consultation page: Improving air quality and Londoners' health, tackling climate change and reducing congestion | Have Your Say Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)

• What is the expected impact on residential property demand and prices?

The GLA does not hold this information.

• What specific indicators (such as deaths from vehicle pollution) were adopted as justification for the ULEZ extension? (provide details, sources and methodology)
• What external professional advice and sources were used in the decision to extend the ULEZ? (provide details, sources and methodology)

On 25 November, the Mayor announced that the ULEZ will be expanded London-wide in August 2023. The Mayoral Decision form (available on the GLA website sets out the reasons behind the Mayor’s decision. TfL’s Report to the Mayor, which analyses the themes raised through the consultation, is appended to the Decision:  MD3060 London-wide Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) Scheme | London City Hall

• What are the budgeted costs of implementation of the extended ULEZ zone?
• What are the budgeted ongoing running costs per annum?

As set out in the Mayoral Decision on the scheme, the total implementation cost based on current assumptions is estimated at £159.5m for the London-wide expansion of the ULEZ. Separately, the Mayor has confirmed a £110m scrappage scheme to help Londoners prepare for the expansion.

• Will revenue from extended ULEZ charging be ring-fenced for expenditure only on transport?

Any net revenue generated by TfL’s road charging schemes (the ULEZ, LEZ or the Congestion Charge) is reinvested back into London’s transport network.

• What costs will be incurred by local borough councils in implementing the ULEZ extension?

The GLA does not hold this information. As the charging authority, TfL is responsible for securing all necessary infrastructure and systems for the expansion of the ULEZ London-wide, as well as for its operation and enforcement thereafter.

• What reliefs, concessions, exemptions and financial assistance (for example, replacement of non-compliant vehicles) will be offered to residents of the extended ULEZ area? What is the cost of these measures and how will they be funded?

To help people prepare for the expansion, the Mayor has announced a new £110m scrappage scheme. Londoners on lower incomes, disabled Londoners, charities and microbusinesses and sole traders can apply for grant funding to scrap or retrofit non-compliant vehicles. The scheme will open on 30 January 2023 and you can read more on TfL’s website: Scrappage schemes - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)

The Mayor has also announced new measures to support disabled people, including extending the existing exemption periods for London’s disabled drivers and community transport minibuses run by not-for-profit organisations to October 2027 and October 2025 respectively, and introducing new exemption periods for disabled drivers and wheelchair accessible vehicles. The new grace periods will open for applications on 30 January 2023 and apply until 25 October 2027.

The Mayor is providing further support through removing the fee for drivers to sign up to Auto Pay for the ULEZ and Congestion charges. This will come into effect on 30 January 2023.

• Given that all of the outer London boroughs have a PTAL of 2 or worse, what specific plans has TfL for the increase of bus, overground and underground services, frequency and capacity to replace the inevitable loss of access to private vehicle use which many residents will suffer? What is the total cost of these measures, and how will it be funded?

The GLA does not hold this information. TfL is the Mayor's transport authority and is responsible for implementing the Mayor's Transport Strategy, and for the day-to-day operational running of transport services. You may wish to send a further request to TfL at [email protected]. The Mayor’s Transport Strategy provides an overall vision for London transport. You can read it on the GLA website: Mayor's Transport Strategy | London City Hall. 

• What are the expected impacts on buses, coaches, taxis and other passenger service vehicles operating in the outer London boroughs? How many will be scrapped/taken out of service, how will they be replaced, and who will bear the costs?

TfL’s entire bus fleet has met or exceeded the ULEZ standards since January 2021 and London licensed black cabs are exempt from paying the ULEZ charge. TfL will continue to reduce emissions from these vehicles through its bus electrification programme and taxi de-licensing programme.

There are a number of grace-periods available for other passenger services. Community transport minibuses operated by not-for-profit organisations and wheelchair adapted private hire vehicles (mini-cabs) registered with TfL receive a 100% discount from paying the charge until October 2023 and October 2025, respectively. Under the proposals to expand the ULEZ London-wide it is proposed that these grace periods would be extended until October 2025 (for community transport minibuses) and October 2027 (for wheelchair adapted private hire vehicles).