The Deputy Leader of Hounslow Council's statement on the expansion of the ULEZ scrappage scheme

We warmly welcome the Mayor of London’s decision to expand the ULEZ scrappage scheme today. This significant expansion will mean small businesses and families in Hounslow will now be eligible to apply for thousands of pounds of support to support a change in their vehicle.

We wrote to the Mayor of London this week highlighting that while we support the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) we requested that he review the current criteria for the scrappage scheme. This included:

• Enabling more small businesses to fit the eligibility criteria.
• Reviewing the grace period for drivers who have booked a retrofit for their van.
• Widening the eligibility criteria for parents and carers.

Now, we are pleased to see this criteria has now been expanded to:

• Allowing all Londoners receiving child benefit to apply (previously eligibility covered couples earning up to £40,000 only).
• Allowing small businesses with fewer than 50 employees to apply. Currently, only those with up to ten staff can apply.
• A new three-month grace period for organisations who have booked a retrofit appointment for a non-compliant van or mini bus but have not being able to have the work completed by August 2023.
• A new six-month grace period for organisations who have ordered a compliant vehicle but have been informed delivery will be delayed till after August 2023.

We are delighted that the Mayor of London listened to the views of Londoners on the scrappage scheme. Toxic air is damaging the health of people across London and expanding ULEZ London-wide will ensure five million Londoners can breathe cleaner air.

The expansion of the scrappage scheme also means more Hounslow residents can transition to cleaner vehicles or take up other options – ensuring we make Hounslow a greener and cleaner place to live, work and study.