Leeds City Council utilised CCS’ transport technology offering to design, implement and operate a Clean Air Zone solution for the city.
Published 17 June 2019
Last updated 3 July 2020
The requirement
In 2015, the government revealed plans to improve air quality in cities, with the introduction of five Clean Air Zones (CAZ), to be operational by 2020. One of these Clean Air Zones was to be introduced in the City of Leeds.
Improving air quality is a government priority; The Royal College of Physicians and of Paediatrics and Child Health estimates that 40,000 premature deaths a year in the UK are linked to poor air quality.
The solution
Leeds City Council procured the design, implementation and operation of CAZ monitoring and enforcement solution for the city using the Traffic Management Technology 2 commercial agreement. They received help throughout the procurement process from Danielle Carvell, Commercial Agreement Manager.
The solution will involve the deployment of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at more than 100 junctions.
The cameras will be used to identify and register every vehicle that enters the city’s charging zone. It will query against the government’s planned database of the more heavily polluting vehicles such as taxis, coaches, private hire and heavy goods vehicles. They will then be subject to a charge aimed at discouraging them from entering the area. Private cars, vans and motorcycles will not be charged.
The money raised will only be used to cover the operating costs and for other schemes to improve air quality.
The results
The Clean Air Zone will reduce air pollution and protect the health of everyone in Leeds. Councilor James Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for resources and sustainability, said:
Having received government approval for the clean air charging zone, the council is working hard to ensure the successful and timely introduction of the scheme. Being able to identify and charge non-compliant vehicles driving within the zone’s boundary is essential to encouraging businesses to switch to less polluting vehicles.
For further information
To find out more about the Traffic Management Technology 2 commercial agreement, you can:
View the commercial agreement page
Call us on 0345 410 2222