Running costs for Low Emission Zones: FOI release

Information requested

"Information on the running costs for Low Emission Zones, including any costs from 05/09/2024 to date (28/03/2025), and any information on estimated running costs per year please - ie. to request any update, up to today's date please, on the information previously kindly supplied in FOI ref 202400430183 which contained costs to Sep 2024.”

As per our clarification request of 31 March 2025, you have agreed to us slightly expanding the time period you initially requested, so it now runs from 5 September 2024 to 31 March 2025 to ensure you receive the most up to date figures.

Response

Please note that all costs detailed have been rounded to zero decimal places.

Response to your request

The answer to your question is:

Information on LEZ costs, for the period from 5 September 2024 to 31 March 2025 are as follows:

1. No further capital grants have been awarded to bus and coach operators to upgrade their vehicles to Euro VI (6) standards through the Bus Emission Abatement Retrofit fund.

2. An additional £2,057,759 has been spent on the LEZ Support Fund since September 2024 to help lower income households and smaller businesses adapt to LEZs by disposing of, or retrofitting vehicles 

3. An additional £19,153 has been spent on LEZ communications and website hosting.

4. Since September an additional £836,201 has been paid to local authorities through LEZ grant funding.

5. Information regarding LEZ running costs is as follows:

• Glasgow City Council has published a financial report for their LEZ, which includes operational costs and is available on their website here: Glasgow City Council.
• Aberdeen City Council, Dundee City Council and City of Edinburgh Council have not provided any further detailed estimates for running costs, however each city is required to publish its LEZ annual report later this year which will include operational costs.

6. Additional LEZ costs since 5 September 2024 are:

• Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) costs – £13,907
• Blue Badge exemption system costs – £27,423
• Blue Badge call centre costs – £38,514
• Legal costs - £1,889

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.