Sadiq Khan has welcomed the success of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) scrappage scheme, which has helped remove more than 53,000 older, more polluting vehicles from the capital’s roads.
A new report from Transport for London confirms that the £210 million programme led to 35,094 cars and 17,964 vans being taken off the road. The Mayor described it as the UK’s largest scrappage scheme and said it played a key role in helping Londoners switch to cleaner transport options.
According to TfL, air quality has improved at 99% of monitored sites across London since 2019, with London’s air improving faster than any other region in England. The scheme focused heavily on outer London, which received 88% of the funding. Boroughs like Croydon and Hillingdon recorded the highest number of successful applications.
Originally launched in January 2023 with a budget of £110 million, the scheme was extended twice due to high demand—first to £160 million in August 2023, and then to £210 million in January 2024.
The eligibility criteria expanded over time. What began as a scheme for low-income drivers grew to include all Londoners with non-compliant vehicles, as well as small businesses, Child Benefit recipients, and charities. Eligible organisations were allowed to scrap or retrofit up to three vehicles.
In total, more than 76,000 applications were submitted—more than all other UK scrappage schemes combined that support Clean Air Zones or Low Emission Zones.
Significant environmental benefits
The environmental benefits of the programme have been considerable. By 2024, road transport nitrogen oxide emissions across London had dropped by 36%, saving around 3,400 tonnes per year. That’s roughly the same as the annual emissions from every passenger car trip made in Los Angeles.
Annual reductions also include:
- 160 tonnes of nitrogen oxides (NOx)
- 8.5 tonnes of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter)
- 33,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂), equivalent to the yearly emissions of around 1,000 homes.
From 2019 to 2024, the Ulez programme is estimated to have prevented 813,000 tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere—roughly equal to almost 3 million one-way passenger flights between Heathrow and New York.
Khan said: “I’m proud that the UK’s biggest scrappage scheme has helped so many people switch to cleaner, greener transport. It’s made a real difference to London’s air and helped encourage more sustainable travel that will benefit our city long-term.”
He added that London’s air is now improving faster than elsewhere in England, and highlighted the global impact of the scheme too.
Vehicles donated to Ukraine
As part of the scheme, 684 vehicles were donated to support medical and humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. These vehicles were repurposed for use by paramedics, hospitals, and aid organisations.
Iryney Makarukha of British Ukrainian Aid said the donations were saving lives: “We’re incredibly grateful to Londoners and the Mayor for making this possible. These vehicles are making a real impact.”
Behavioural shift towards greener travel
Beyond vehicle scrappage, the programme also helped shift behaviour. Among those who received funding:
- 18% said they walk more often
- 12% reported increased use of public transport
- 29% chose not to replace their vehicle at all
Khan said he would continue to take “bold, world-leading action” to cut emissions and create “a better, fairer, greener capital for all.”
