London’s vehicle scrappage scheme is to get an additional £5m in funding, accelerating the move to cleaner vehicles across the capital among SMEs, charities and individuals.

The latest vehicle scrappage scheme funding arrives ahead of the October 2021 expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone up to, but not including, the North and South Circular

The scheme launched in 2019 and has already helped replace or retrofit more than 10,000 vehicles. This includes enabling micro businesses, sole traders and charities to scrap more than 5,000 older vans.

The latest funding, announced today (16 July) by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, arrives ahead of the October 2021 expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone up to, but not including, the North and South Circular roads.

While the van element of the scheme has been suspended, due to “enthusiastic uptake”, motorists including Londoners on low incomes or those with disabilities can still apply for £2,000 for scrapping a car and £1,000 for scrapping a motorcycle or moped.

Charities can also continue to access funding to scrap minibuses – recognising their vital role in our communities and the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Sadiq Khan said: “Air pollution is a national health crisis that is stunting the lung development of our children and leading to thousands of premature deaths.

“Despite the lack of government support, our car and motorcycle scrappage scheme will continue to help low-income and disabled Londoners scrap their older, polluting vehicles and switch to walking, cycling and public transport or a cleaner vehicle.”

Khan also called for wider government action on air quality and vehicle scrappage.

“We need the Government to follow London’s lead and help clean our filthy air once and for all, by strengthening the Environment Bill to include WHO recommended air quality limits to be met by 2030 and supporting a targeted national vehicle scrappage fund that will help motorists across the UK to ditch their polluting cars,” he said.