The Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting included a report on the progress of the Bradford Clean Air Zone (CAZ).

Bradford Clean Air Zone (CAZ)

The meeting was scheduled to include a report from the Strategic Director, Place, Andrew Whittles, providing an update on the progress of the Bradford Clean Air Zone (CAZ). The report included the following:

Interim health data

The report included the interim data from the health impact assessment (HIA) of the Bradford Clean Air Zone. This data, described by Government as a study of national importance, was collected by Born in Bradford (BiB)¹ during the first year of CAZ operation, from September 2022 to September 2023. The report noted that the data suggests that there were:

598 fewer primary care visits for respiratory health every month which is a 25% reduction

134 fewer primary care visits for cardiovascular health every month which is a 24% reduction

£30,743 cost savings for the NHS per month

Air quality monitoring data

The report included an update on the progress the council had made towards meeting the requirements of the Ministerial Direction that was issued in 2020. The Ministerial Direction required Bradford to implement a Class C Clean Air Zone in order to reduce Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels in the city to below the legal limit in the shortest possible time. The report noted that:

The Government has developed a 4 State assessment towards lifting the Ministerial Direction. As of 2023, the Council is in State 1 – progressing towards achieving compliance with legal limits for air quality. All CAZ Authorities, except Bath, are in State 1. Bath is in State 2, having achieved compliance with legal limits.

Fleet transformation

The report described the progress that had been made towards transforming the city's fleet of vehicles to be compliant with the CAZ.

Taxis

The report noted that the council has supported the owners of Hackney Carriages and Private Hire vehicles to upgrade their vehicles. It noted that as of November 2024:

99% of the licensed fleet [is] either electric hybrid or dedicated electric vehicle.

Other Vehicles

The report noted that:

The Council has circa £2.2m in Government funding available to upgrade all affected vehicles...

It also noted that:

Data samples for September 2022, 2023 & 2024 show that electric vehicle movements have increased from 27,390 to 130,848 within the CAZ area, currently 27,613 distinct vehicles.

Exemptions

The report noted that when the CAZ was first implemented in September 2022, almost 5% of vehicles driving in the zone were non-compliant. The report noted that as of November 2024 this had reduced to 1.2%

Clean Air Programmes

The report described the programmes that the council is delivering that are intended to improve air quality.

Clean Air Schools Programme

The report described the council's Clean Air Schools Programme (CASP), noting that:

The innovative Clean Air Schools Programme (CASP) is a £1.1m CAZ-funded, district-wide environmental, engagement and educational programme focused on improving the health and well-being of young people.

Electric HGV Trials

The report described the trials of electric HGVs that the council is carrying out in partnership with local businesses.

The trial is working with local business Joesph Parr Ltd and is the UKs first trial of an electric HGV with a HIAB crane.²

Bradford E-bike Hire Scheme

The report described the proposed e-bike hire scheme that the council is planning to deliver in 2025.

The Council Executive Committee has approved the use of £800,000 of CAZ revenue to deliver an E-Bike Hire Scheme in the district in 2025.

District Heat Network

The report described the progress the council is making to connect public buildings to the Bradford Energy Network (BEN). The BEN is a district heat network, currently under construction, that will provide heat to buildings from a new energy centre on Thornton Road. The report noted that:

The Council Executive Committee has approved the connection of City Hall, subject to satisfactory terms and conditions, to the Bradford Energy Network (BEN)

Particle Reduction Strategy & Wood Burning

The report noted that:

Working with Public Health and West Yorkshire partners, the Council is developing a particle reduction strategy.

The report also noted that the council had been:

...informing communities how they can reduce exposure to pollutants.

It described how this had been achieved by:

...directing traffic to our newly updated pages on the Breathe Better website on smoke control.

Financial implications

The report set out the financial position of the CAZ, noting that the council had received £17,014,951 in revenue from the CAZ between its launch and September 2024.