More than 53,000 older, polluting vehicles have been removed from London’s roads through his Ulez scrappage scheme.More than 53,000 older, polluting vehicles have been removed from London's roads through his Ulez scrappage scheme.More than 53,000 older, polluting vehicles have been removed from London’s roads through his Ulez scrappage scheme.

Ulez has seen thousands of petrol and diesel cars scrapped. More than 53,000 older, polluting vehicles have been removed from London’s roads through his Ulez scrappage scheme.

A new report evaluating the most recent ULEZ scrappage scheme finds it achieved its aims – with a total of 35,094 cars and 17,964 vans removed from London’s roads or upgraded to a ULEZ-compliant vehicle, helping to substantially reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality.

Labour Party representative and Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am proud that the scrappage scheme – the biggest in the UK – has supported so many Londoners to switch to cleaner, greener forms of transport.

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“This has made a huge difference to our air quality, and also encouraged many Londoners to take up more sustainable ways of travelling, which will make a lasting difference to our capital.

“ULEZ compliance is now more than 97 per cent, bringing cleaner air to millions of Londoners. London’s air quality is now improving at a faster rate than the rest of England and we’ve also made a difference overseas, with hundreds of vehicles supporting the medical and humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.

“I will continue to take bold, world-leading action to improve London’s air quality and the health of Londoners, as we build a better, fairer, greener capital for all.”

TfL’s Director of Strategy, Christina Calderato, said: “The ULEZ has been a great success, driving down toxic pollution and ensuring everyone living, working and visiting in London is breathing cleaner air.

“The vast majority of vehicles on London’s roads – more than 97 per cent – are now ULEZ compliant, up from just 39 per cent in 2017.

“The scrappage support schemes have played a vital role in helping Londoners, London-based charities and businesses to remove more than 53,000 older and more polluting vehicle from the capital’s roads.

“People in outer London played their part in the green transition and were supported in doing so with most of the funding going to those living in outer London boroughs.

“We welcome the positive move towards more walking, cycling and greater use of public transport the scheme has supported, which contributes to the Mayor’s wider goal of 80 per cent of journeys taken via these sustainable forms of transport by 2041.

“Not only has the capital benefited from the scrappage scheme, those on the frontline in Ukraine have also been helped, with close to 700 vehicles donated to assist with the medical and humanitarian effort.”