Andy Burnham faces major Clean Air Zone update in Manchester after 'disappointing' election blow

The organisation will submit to the Air Quality Administration Committee that the city region is delivering all measures agreed with the Government.

This includes reducing levels of nitrogen dioxide to legal levels in line with Government-approved requirements without the need for a charging Clean Air Zone.

Clean Air GM will ask the committee to agree that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras originally installed for the Clean Air Zone are transferred to Greater Manchester Police.

A consultation found that almost 90 per cent of local residents backed these plans to help GMP tackle serious crime across the region.

Greater Manchester aims to have its bus network be fully electric by the end of the decade, which has been supported by £51.1million of Government funding.

This has delivered 78 additional zero emission buses, with 20 already on the road, as well as 24 new dual chargers at the Bolton depot to support the charging of 98 electric buses.

Additional chargers have been installed on the Piccadilly approach to support electric buses on the free bus city centre service.

There are further plans to electrify new depots across Greater Manchester, including fully electric depots in Ashton and Middleton.

Councillor Eamonn O'Brien, Clean Air lead for Greater Manchester, said the region was "determined" to meet its emissions goals and improve public health.

The Leader of Bury Council added: "This is about improving air quality in the right way. Our investment-led approach means we are on track to deliver cleaner air without a charging zone and without placing financial pressure on residents or businesses.

"Through the rollout of new zero-emission buses, alongside grants for black cab drivers to upgrade their vehicles, we're showing exactly what an investment-led plan can achieve: cleaner air, modern public transport and a fairer approach for local people."

A further £8million has been provided to the Hackney Support Fund to help black cab drivers upgrade to compliant vehicles.

So far, 193 applications have already been processed, with £1.58million already committed for grants.

Clean Air GM is also considering introducing a fund to support private hire licensees to upgrade their vehicles to meet emissions standards, which will be clarified in the 2026/27 budget.

Signage around the city will also continue to be removed over the coming weeks in Stockport and Salford, while National Highways will work to remove its signs on the M62 by March.

The update comes as Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham faces chaos amid his failed bid to be the Labour representative in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

Mr Burnham applied to stand in the by-election, but was stopped by Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) in a vote of 8-1.

Responding to the decision, the Mayor said he was "disappointed" by the decision, adding: "You would think that over 30 years of service would count for something but sadly not."