Leeds City Council (LCC) has opened a further £3m funding round for the city’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ). It captures operators of coaches and non-scheduled buses that will enter the CAZ once it is introduced on a still to be determined date in 2020.
The money is available regardless of whether the operator is based within the zone. Up to £16,000 per vehicle is up for grabs. Notably, LCC has made provision for retrospective awards against certain Euro VI compliant coaches and non-scheduled buses. To be eligible, they must have been purchased since 20 January.
Up to £160,000 per bidder
The total award per bidder is capped at £160,000, or for 10 vehicles. If the scheme is oversubscribed money will be allocated on an individual vehicle basis. Closing date for applications is 13 December. Successful participants will be informed by February 2020.
They will be able to use the funding towards:
- Purchasing a compliant vehicle to replace a non-compliant one
- Fitment of CVRAS-accredited retrofit equipment to a non-compliant vehicle
- To pay exit fees from a lease agreement for a non-compliant vehicle, provided it will be replaced by a compliant example.
Distribution of the funds will be undertaken via a competitive process. Applications will be scored based on location of the operating centre, mileage covered within the CAZ and the existing emissions standard of the non-compliant vehicles that will be replaced.
When applying, operators will be required to provide evidence of where the vehicle(s) to be replaced or upgraded have been based for the past 12 months and that it or they are currently used in the Leeds CAZ. They must and be able to provide details of the estimated frequency that the vehicle(s) will be used in the CAZ, based on current operations.
Retrospective funding available
The retrospective funding provision covers compliant vehicles that have already replaced non-compliant models.
To obtain money under those circumstances, bidders must be able to provide a copy of the old, non-compliant vehicle’s V5 or DVLA proof of ownership. They must also provide proof of the sale or disposal and receipts demonstrating such.
Details of the replacement compliant vehicle(s) will also be required, including proof of either their purchase or the fitting of a CVRAS-accredited retrofit solution, proof of ownership and proof of Euro VI compliance.
