London’s low-emission zone is projected to make ‘little or no’ change to average pollution levels this year, but will benefit those residents near busy roads, according to Transport for London.

The LEZ aims to improve London's air

TfL’s baseline report for the LEZ – introduced in February to improve the capital’s air quality by targeting the largest, most polluting diesel-engine vehicles – attempts to pinpoint scheme-related effects, as opposed to the natural replacement of vehicles.

During 2007, improvements in the emissions performance of vehicles in Greater London led to reductions in nitrogen oxides (NOx) of 7% and particulates (PM10s) of 5.6%.

TfL estimates that 1.4% of the NOx and 1.1% of the PM10 reductions in emissions were due to the looming introduction of the scheme. And these are expected to translate into only a 0.6% cut in average NOx concentrations in the air, and a 0.15% reduction in the amount of particulates.

TfL’s report acknowledged that the majority of Greater London was expected ‘to show little or no change to annual average concentrations’ of pollutants.

But the most heavily-polluted locations, close to London’s busiest roads, would benefit from fewer days when there were higher-than-recommended levels of pollutants in the air. Currently, the worst-affected locations suffer from more than 100 such ‘exceedance days’.

TfL estimated that 4% less of Greater London, by land area, would exceed the national air quality objectives for particulates by 2010.

Nick Fairholme, TfL’s head of the LEZ, said: ‘London is already benefiting from reduced emissions as a result of the zone.’
The report also highlighted that 91% of vehicles are compliant with the scheme, TfL having issued 15,000 warning letters and – up until 30 April – 4,000 penalty charge notices to fleet operators.