Clean Air Zone: Sheffield City Council makes announcement after year of charging vehicles

Council chiefs say nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from traffic is down 16 per cent in the city centre and 21 per cent across the wider Sheffield district.

But despite the overall drop, five locations remain above legal levels: Waingate, Attercliffe Road, Sheaf Street, Meadowhall Road and Arundel Gate interchange. 

Councillor Ben Miskell, chair of the transport and regeneration committee, said it was a “fantastic achievement for Sheffield.”

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 He added: “I’m really pleased to share that air quality in the city is improving. Data collected as part of the Clean Air Zone shows that air pollution caused by vehicles has dropped right across the city, and we’re seeing more and more people and businesses making the switch to cleaner vehicles.”

The Clean Air Zone launched on February 27, 2023. It charges older diesel vans and taxis £10-a-day to travel on, or within, the inner ring road. Older coaches, buses and lorries are charged £50. It raked in £7.18m in fees and fines in its first 12 months. Some £1m of CAZ income is being spent improving air quality around schools.

In June, motorcycle dealer Via Moto, on Shoreham Street, closed, blaming the Clean Air Zone. Earlier this month staff at Wickes on Moore Street said it was closing in August because the CAZ had “killed business.”

The council says overall traffic volumes have not decreased since the launch. 

And a scheme offering cash to upgrade or replace vehicles has paid out 1,595 grants up to the end of May. The government gave the council £24m to cover installation costs and to upgrade vehicles.

The authority has also insisted it will not extend the zone or start charging cars or motorbikes.