Greater Manchester Reports Strong Progress on Tackling Air Pollution

Greater Manchester is making significant headway in cutting harmful nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) pollution, according to a new update from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

A report due to be presented to the city-region’s Air Quality Administration Committee on 29 January confirms that Greater Manchester is meeting its legal air quality obligations through a non-charging Clean Air Plan. The approach focuses on targeted investment rather than road user charging, with measures aimed at reducing emissions at source and improving traffic flow.

Key progress has been driven by investment in cleaner transport, including the ongoing electrification of the bus fleet, financial support for taxi drivers to upgrade to lower-emission vehicles, and a range of local traffic management interventions.

The report will also ask local leaders to approve the transfer of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras—originally installed for earlier proposals for a charging Clean Air Zone—from TfGM to Greater Manchester Police. This follows a public consultation that showed strong support for the cameras to be repurposed for policing and enforcement activity.

Greater Manchester’s ambition to move to a fully electric bus fleet by the end of the decade is being backed by £51.1m in government funding. This investment will deliver 78 additional zero-emission buses and support the electrification of bus depots across the city-region.

Taxi drivers are also being supported through an £8m upgrade fund designed to help eligible black cab owners switch to cleaner vehicles. To date, 193 applications have been approved, with £1.58m already committed in grants. The scheme enables drivers to move to zero-emission capable vehicles, second-hand zero-emission capable models, or compliant Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel vehicles.

Alongside vehicle upgrades, a series of targeted local measures have been introduced to address NO₂ hotspots. These include speed limit reductions, traffic signal optimisation and yellow box junction enforcement, all aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion-related emissions.

Following the decision not to introduce a charging Clean Air Zone, the majority of related road signage has now been removed. Remaining signs in Stockport and Salford are scheduled to be taken down in the coming weeks, with National Highways expected to complete the removal of its signage by March.

TfGM says the update demonstrates that Greater Manchester’s investment-led strategy is delivering tangible improvements in air quality while avoiding the need for charging measures.