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Glasgow City Council

Glasgow's Low Emission Zone (LEZ)

Overview

We need to reduce levels of harmful vehicle emissions in our city centre. These can cause health problems, particularly for those most vulnerable.

That's why from 1 June 2023, our Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will come into force.

All vehicles entering the city centre zone area will need to meet the less-polluting emission standards or face a penalty charge.

LEZ map (STV version)

There are some exemptions and zone residents have extra time to comply.

Fully electric vehicles meet LEZ requirements in Scotland.

Motorbikes and mopeds are not included in the current LEZ schemes and no restrictions will apply.

Full details about Glasgow's LEZ can be found on our LEZ Key Information page.

You can also see if your vehicle meets LEZ emission standards by using Transport Scotland's vehicle registration checker

Blue Badge holders who require exemptions can register their details on Transport Scotland's LEZ exemption system.

Zone residents who require a grace period until 31 May 2024, can apply by clicking on this link.

Public hire taxi operators applying for a time-limited (temporary) exemption can do so by clicking on this link.

In exceptional circumstances, Glasgow's LEZ scheme will allow for time-limited (temporary) exemptions of up to one year. You can find out more and access the application process by clicking on this link.

Why Glasgow Needs a Low Emission Zone

Although we've made good progress in recent years to improve Glasgow's air quality, harmful nitrogen dioxide is being recorded in our city centre at levels that do not meet the legal requirements.

As the main source of this harmful pollutant is from road traffic, Glasgow's Low Emission Zone is an essential measure to improve air quality and help protect public health, especially for those most vulnerable.

Glasgow's LEZ can also help accelerate the uptake of less polluting vehicles, encourage people to move away from private car use and increase the safety, attractiveness, and amenity of our city centre.

LEZ Development/Consultation

Phase 1 of Glasgow's LEZ (which affects buses only) was introduced on 31 December 2018.

Phase 2 will expand the scope of Glasgow's LEZ so that it affects all vehicles driving into the city centre zone, including private cars.  This final phase will be enforced by way of a penalty charge from 1 June 2023.

Many elements of LEZs in Scotland are set at national level for consistency.  This would include the emission standards and penalties.

The council has however determined the specific design and operation of Glasgow's LEZ after careful consideration of what is required locally.

This is set out in Glasgow's LEZ Phase 2 Final Scheme Design.

 

Main development/consultation stages of LEZ Phase 2:

  • March 2020: To help shape the LEZ Phase 2 design, we ran our first public consultation in 2020. The findings were independently reviewed and summarised.
  • Summer/Autumn 2021: LEZ Phase 2 design proposals were consulted upon with almost 3,000 responses received.
  • September 2022: An update of the LEZ workplan ahead of enforcement, and our intended approach to exemptions/time-limited exemptions was provided to our Net Zero Committee on 20 September 2022.

 

An extensive campaign of LEZ awareness has been underway since 2018, including the installation of indicative signage at key entry points around the zone boundary.

Throughout development of LEZ Phase 2, the council has widely consulted and engaged with the public and key stakeholder groups. This includes hosting events and writing out directly to those most affected, such as zone residents.

In addition, the council has supported and cross promoted Transport Scotland's wider, national LEZ communications campaign which has included highlighting the Scottish Government's support funding and other assistance available to individuals and businesses to ease compliance.

To increase awareness and understanding of Glasgow's LEZ, our 'Plan Ahead for the LEZ' publicity campaign commenced in December 2022.  This campaign alongside engagement with key stakeholders, will continue up to and beyond enforcement. Statutory LEZ signage and road markings are now also in place on key routes into the city centre zone.

LEZ Legislation/Regulations

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 provides the legislation to enable the creation and civil enforcement of LEZs.

The Scottish Government has also developed regulations and guidance, relating to a number of key LEZ aspects including emissions, penalties, certain exemptions and parameters for grace periods. The council however has the powers to create, enforce, operate or revoke a Low Emission Zone and to design its shape, size and vehicle scope, based on local requirements.

There are two sets of national regulations for LEZs:

These Regulations were finalised following a consultation which asked questions about key aspects of LEZ regulations and guidance, particularly views on emission standards, exemptions and penalty charges.

The Traffic Signs Amendment (Scotland) Regulations and General Directions 2022 refers to the road signs and markings that indicate a Low Emission Zone.

LEZ Reports/Evidence Base

This area contains the evidence used in developing and designing Glasgow's LEZ.

Last updated: December 2022

pdf icon Glasgow’s LEZ – Final Scheme Design as Approved [3Mb]

pdf icon Glasgow's LEZ - Preferred Scheme Design (Phase 2) [626kb]

pdf icon LEZ Objections Report [147kb]

pdf icon Glasgow Air Quality Evidence Report – initial report on the LEZ proposals by SEPA [5Mb]

pdf icon Glasgow’s LEZ – Prepared by SEPA – an interim report from 2020 on phase 1 of the LEZ and lockdown [3Mb]

pdf icon Glasgow LEZ Emissions Report – final report from SEPA detailing emissions reductions through the LEZ [1Mb]

pdf icon Low Emission Zone – Glasgow Evidence Report by SEPA (final) [4Mb]

pdf icon Consideration of Carbon Dioxide emissions within an LEZ scheme: Glasgow – Report by SEPA [570kb]

pdf icon Glasgow City Centre LEZ Testing – Transport modelling report on the LEZ boundary options by Systra [2Mb]

pdf icon LEZ Post Covid Uncertainty Summary Note – Note on post covid uncertainty prepared by Jacobs / Systra for Transport Scotland [771kb]

pdf icon Glasgow City Centre LEZ Testing Covid Measures – Report on LEZ transport modelling including preferred boundary options and uncertainty prepared by Systra [2Mb]

pdf icon Glasgow LEZ IIA Final Report – Integrated Impact Assessment of the preferred LEZ scheme prepared by Jacobs [2Mb]

LEZ Data Analysis Tool

Using traffic modelling information provided by SYSTRA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has developed an interactive tool to show the predicted changes in both emissions and traffic levels expected under the proposed Phase 2 LEZ measures. The tool allows users to explore these changes on a street by street basis and is available via the link below:

LEZ Data Analysis Tool

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