Provision of Southampton Road Transport Fleet Survey in support of the clean airzone feasibility/penalty study

1.1. The UK government is committed to improving the UK’s air quality, reducing health impacts, and fulfilling our legal obligations.

The Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published Air quality in the UK: A plan to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions in December 2016. In order to bring the UK into legal compliance and to reduce concentrations of nitrogen dioxide below 40 μg/m3 the plan proposes to introduce Clean Air Zones (CAZ) in five cities, including Southampton.

These Zones will introduce penalty charges for the most polluting vehicles. A national framework and legislation to facilitate this are expected in 2016/17.

Government have allocated funding to support those local authorities affected. Southampton City Council (SCC) are working closely with colleagues in Defra and DfT to develop the framework and Southampton’s own implementation plan with the aim of introducing penalty charges in 2019.

It is currently engaged in designing and procuring a feasibility study that will assist in designing how the penalty charging system will operate. Additional information: To view all documents please log onto the sourcing portal.