Eligibility for a scrappage scheme to help people replace their vehicles with less polluting vehicles in order to meet Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Ulez requirements has been extended to all Londoners.
Drivers who were previously not eligible for the scheme will now be able to apply to it from August 2
All Londoners who have a non-Ulez compliant car will be able to access a grant of £2,000, while small businesses and sole traders will receive up to £21,000 in grants to scrap up to three vans. Charities will be able to receive up to £27,000 in grants to scrap up to three minibuses.
Also from today (August 4) small businesses with non-compliant vans will receive increased payments of £7,000, up from £5,000, while grants for replacing a non-electric van with an electric van will increase from £7,500 to £9,500.
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It comes after Ulez expand was blamed for being behind Labour’s loss at the Uxbridge by-election – last week the High Court ruled that Sadiq Khan should be allowed to extend the scheme to outer London, after several councils objected.
“I have always said that expanding the Ulez to the whole of London was a difficult decision, and not one I took lightly – but it’s a decision that I remain committed to seeing through,” said Sadiq Khan.
“I’m not prepared to step back, delay or water down vital green policies like Ulez, which will not only save lives and protect children’s lungs by cleaning up our polluted air but help us to fight the climate crisis,” he continued.
“I have continued to listen to the concerns of Londoner’s and can announce a huge expansion to the scrappage scheme that means that all Londoners with non Ulez-compliant cars will now get financial support to switch to greener, less polluting vehicles”.
Business LDN chief executive John Dickie said: “Cleaning up London’s air not only saves lives, it makes the city a more attractive place to live, work and visit”.
“The expansion of the Ulez is an important next step on this journey and the announcement of a bigger and simpler scrappage scheme for non-compliant vehicles is excellent news. This additional support will be vital for businesses and households making the transition during a cost of living crisis.”
Federation of Small Businesses London Infrastructure Lead Michael Lloyd added that the funds would “make a real difference to many small businesses and sole traders in the capital”, and said the FSB would help play a role in raising awareness of the additional funding among the smallest businesses.
