HGVs will need to be Euro-6 to enter the whole of Greater London from 26 October 2020 or face fines of up to £300 for the oldest models.

In an announcement today (8 June) London mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed his proposals, put to consultation last year, to tighten the requirements of the capital's existing Low Emission Zone (LEZ) for HGVs from Euro-4 to Euro-6.

The plans will affect buses, coaches and lorries over 3.5-tonnes.

HGVs meeting Euro-4 or Euro-5 standards will pay a £100 daily fee to enter the LEZ, while Euro-3 and older will pay £300.

Khan also confirmed his decision to extend the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) up to the North and South Circular roads from 25 October 2021.

The ULEZ will first come into effect on 8 April 2019 in the central London congestion charging Zone.

While the ULEZ expansion will not affect HGVs, which will already be covered by extended LEZ regulations, it will require cars and vans to be Euro-4 petrol or Euro-6 diesel or pay a £12.50 daily charge,

The new ULEZ will cover an area 18 times larger than the existing central London zone.

An estimate of 35,000 vans and 3,000 lorries has been given by the mayor’s office for those that might be affected by the new plans.

Both schemes are in addition to Congestion Zone charges.

The mayor said the expansion of the two schemes will reduce air pollution by as much as 80%, with only 4% of roads in outer London expected to be exceeding legal air quality limits in 2021.

Emissions regulations will be in place 24 hours a day, seen days a week, 365 days a year.

Khan said: “Tackling London’s lethal air and safeguarding the health of Londoners requires bold action. Air pollution is a national health crisis and I refuse to stand back as thousands of Londoners breathe in air so filthy that it shortens our life expectancy, harms our lungs and worsens chronic illness.”

TfL said the public consultation on expanding the ULEZ standards was its largest ever, with 56% supporting or strongly supporting the expansion of the ULEZ boundary from central London and 74% backing the new London-wide emissions standards for heavy vehicles.

Hugo Martin, Hermes director of legal and public affairs, added: "Hermes is fully committed to meeting the standards in the expanded ULEZ and is investing in cleaner, electric vehicles to support this. We are pleased to be one of the leading lights in the logistics industry helping London on its path to a zero emissions future."

The FTA and RHA both urged the mayor to delay the tightening of any emissions schemes to enable operators time to upgrade their fleets.

You can find out more about switching to cleaner freight vehicles at the next, free-to-attend LoCITY roadshow on 18 July, while those affected by the Leeds clean air zone are urged to attend a free workshop on 3 July.

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