The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched a new vehicle scrappage scheme to support disabled Londoners and charities to replace or retrofit their old, polluting vehicles.
To accompany the scrappage scheme, the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) are also announcing a host of Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) support offers from businesses, including additional exclusive offers for successful applicants of the scrappage scheme. This will enable Londoners to benefit from discounts on subscriptions, rentals and purchases of bicycles, e-bikes, cargo bikes, cars and vans from companies including Brompton, Enterprise and Santander Cycles.
It follows the Mayor’s decision to expand London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) London-wide in August this year.
Londoners receiving certain means-tested benefits and non-means-tested disability benefits can apply for cash grants of up to £2,000 to scrap their non-compliant cars or motorcycles. As a new feature, successful applicants can choose to receive a higher value package comprised of up to two free annual bus and tram passes and a lower cash grant.
Disabled people who want to scrap or retrofit a non-compliant Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) will be able to apply for grants of £5,000 to reflect the higher cost of these vehicles. Disabled people can also apply for a nominated driver who lives at a different address if they do not drive themselves.
In addition to the scrappage scheme, the Mayor is also providing further support for disabled people, through new and extended grace periods. Applications for the new grace periods are open now and the Mayor is encouraging everyone who is eligible to apply.
The two new grace periods provide exemptions until October 2027 for recipients of certain disability benefits (or their nominated driver) and for all WAVs and some vehicles with other adaptations. The grace periods are available to all eligible people or a nominated driver regardless of whether they live in London, and they will apply to the current ULEZ zone as well.
The new disabled benefits grace period means that anyone receiving benefits that automatically make them eligible for a blue badge will also qualify for the new grace period. More Londoners currently claim benefits that would make them eligible for this grace period than currently hold a blue badge.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I took the difficult decision to expand the ULEZ because it will save lives, help tackle the climate crisis and reduce congestion. We have made huge progress in central and inner London but there is much more to do in outer London."
Disability Rights Champion Dr Kush Kanodia added: "We are delighted and welcome these changes from the Mayor of London and Transport for London. I started the campaign 2 years ago which called for further reasonable adjustments for disabled Londoners from ULEZ.
Disabled people have already been the most disproportionately impacted from austerity, the pandemic and the current cost-of-living crisis. Climate action must go hand in hand with climate justice and social justice, to prevent further increases in poverty and inequality in our society.
I now call on the Mayor of London, National Government & City leaders to replicate the further reasonable adjustments for disabled people from ULEZ. Creating a standardised and compassionate policy for all the new clean air zones, from Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth & Newcastle, to all future cities in Sheffield & Manchester."
To learn more and to apply, visit: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/ulez-expansion-2023
