A new plan for 117 lower and zero-emission buses to clean up the city’s air pollution means that a Clean Air Zone charging motorists will not go ahead. The investment package includes £51.1 million towards bus investment, 40 zero emission buses, and £8 million to support moving Greater Manchester’s taxi fleet to cleaner vehicles.

Poor air quality continues to be the biggest environmental risk to human health, and the government has made some progress in reducing the emissions of some air pollutants. Latest data shows that emissions of most air pollutants have decreased from 2012 to 2022, with emissions of nitrogen oxides down 46 per cent, sulphur dioxide down 75 per cent, and fine particulate matter down 18 per cent. The government will continue to develop interventions to make sure everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced.

Air quality minister Emma Hardy said: “Air pollution is damaging people’s health and the environment. Its impacts are felt more by low-income communities, making health and social inequalities worse.

“To improve our health, wellbeing and the environment, we must improve air quality. Local authorities know their communities well and so they need to develop plans that are most effective for their local area, and I am pleased that Greater Manchester has found a clear way to reduce emissions without the need to charge motorists.

“I look forward to working with the teams across Greater Manchester as they put this important plan in place. Government will continue to take the actions needed to ensure everyone has safe air to breathe across the nation.”

The UK has legally-binding targets to reduce the concentration of nitrogen dioxide in the air to an average of no more than 40 micrograms per cubic metre annually, for both environmental and health purposes.