Portsmouth Clean Air Zone - Here's what you need to know
The zone covers the south west of the city
Last updated 29th Nov 2021
Drivers of some of the most polluting vehicles will have to pay to drive into Portsmouth from Monday.
A clean air zone is being launched in the south west of the city.
This comes despite cabinet member for environment, councillor Dave Ashmore, saying the clean air zone was ‘not our preferred option’ and that it was being forced on the city by the government.
The council was issued with a ministerial directive last year ordering it to set it up based on breaches of nitrogen dioxide levels.
Portsmouth is the third area in the country to bring in a clean air zone, following Bath and North East Somerset and Birmingham. Other cities have also been told to introduce them.
Under the class B zone, non-compliant taxis and private hire vehicles will be charged £10 a day and lorries and buses £50 a day.
Non-compliant vehicles are buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and heavy goods vehicles which do not meet Euro 6 standards if diesel, or Euro 4 standards if petrol.
Vans and private cars will not be charged, regardless of their age.
The clean air zone begins at the bottom of the M275 at its most northern point and covers the city centre and Gunwharf Quays.
It extends south to Winston Churchill Avenue and runs parallel with Kingston Road and Fratton Road in the east.
Check if you'll be charged
Enter your vehicle registration to see if you will be charged to enter the Portsmouth clean air zone.
Cllr Ashmore said: "We’ve been working hard to make sure that anyone that may be charged has been informed and supported, and in many cases we’ve been able to offer support for owners to upgrade their non-compliant vehicles.
"We’ve also made sure that systems are all in place ahead of launch so that it goes as smoothly as possible.
"Although a clean air zone is not our preferred option for improving air quality in Portsmouth, we are required by central government to launch the zone".
Millions of pounds was awarded to the council earlier this year to cover the costs of setting it up – including the installation of number plate recognition cameras and signs – and for grants allowing affected drivers to upgrade their vehicles.