London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced he will be closing the Ultra Low Emission Zone scrappage scheme within weeks, potentially leaving thousands of drivers in the lurch.
Having been introduced in 2022, the Ulez scrappage scheme has helped remove polluting vehicles from the capital's roads, although the deadline for new applications will end on Sunday, September 8.
In a statement, City Hall said the scheme would be wound down in the coming weeks following a substantial drop in the number of scrappage applications it had received.
In the 18 months of operation, more than £186million has been committed to almost 54,000 applicants who wish to scrap their non-compliant petrol and diesel cars.
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More than £186million has been committed to scrappage scheme applicants
PAOwners of older, more polluting vehicles that do not meet the emissions standards of the Ulez have the option to scrap their vehicles for grants, retrofit them or donate them to the Ukrainian war effort.
These can range up to £9,000 for minibuses, £7,000 for vans, £2,000 for cars and £1,000 for motorbikes.
Commenting on the announcement, Sadiq Khan said: “I am proud that the scrappage scheme – the biggest in the UK – has supported so many Londoners to switch to cleaner, greener vehicles.
“Ulez compliance has now reached more than 96 per cent, bringing cleaner air to millions of Londoners.
“I remain committed to taking world-leading action to improve London’s air quality and encourage sustainable transport.”
The scheme was first rolled out in 2022 with £110 in funding, which was later extended to £210million available to London's motorists.
At one stage, the Mayor called on former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to match the amount in the scrappage scheme, bringing the combined total to more than £200million.
An extension to the scrappage scheme was launched over a year ago to allow all Londoners to access grant funding by ditching their old internal combustion engine vehicles.
Non-compliant car owners were given £2,000 to scrap their vehicles
PAPreviously, it was only available to low-income and disabled Londoners, although it was expanded in August 2023 to all drivers living in the capital with a non-compliant car or motorcycle.
Terms of the scrappage scheme were changed again in March this year to allow drivers the chance to donate their vehicles to Ukraine in its war effort against Russia.
Drivers are still able to get the £2000 grant through the system, with their car being sent to Ukraine via the British-Ukrainian Aid charity rather than scrapped.
Khan added that "additional funding" would be provided to ensure the vehicles make it to Ukraine once the scrappage scheme is formally closed.
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Vehicles sent to Ukraine will receive 'additional funding' after the scrappage scheme ends
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Christina Calderato, director of strategy at Transport for London, said: "We have seen enthusiastic take-up of the scrappage scheme after it was opened to all Londoners.
“With the vast majority of those needing support to adapt to the Ulez having already taken action and nearly 54,000 applications approved, demand for the scheme is now much lower.
“We encourage anyone who still needs support to submit their application before 8 September. Any remaining funds will then be considered for other proposed uses to further the Mayor’s transport strategy.”
