Request ID: FOI-0662-2223 Date published: 05 July 2022
You asked
Dear Sir/Madam I would like to ask how much money has the ULEZ made since it started in central London October 25th 2021? How much does it cost to run? How much did it cost to implement it? ( i.e. cost of cameras, people to run/ enforce etc...) How much is profit after costs and where does it go? How much cleaner is the air now nearly 8 months on as opposed to this time last year?
We answered
TfL Ref: 0662-2223
Thank you for your request received by us on 8 June 2022 asking for information about the ULEZ expansion.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we holdsome of the information you require. You asked: how much money has the ULEZ made since it started in central London October 25th 2021? How much does it cost to run? How much did it cost to implement it? ( i.e. cost of cameras, people to run/ enforce etc...). How much is profit after costs and where does it go? How much cleaner is the air now nearly 8 months on as opposed to this time last year?
ULEZ revenue since 25 October 2021:
We publish details of income and expenditure in our Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, which is available on our website at https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/annual-report. Information about ULEZ income for the first full financial year of the scheme’s operation can be found on p124. The Annual Report and accounts for 2021/22 will be published shortly on our website.
Therefore in accordance with the FOI Act, TfL is not obliged to supply you with the information you have requested as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information, under Section 22 of the Act. In this instance the exemption has been applied as the information you have requested is intended for future publication.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to assess whether the public interest in applying the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure. In this instance, it is considered that the public interest favours the publication of this information, in context and according to the pre-determined schedule, rather than in response to your request, to ensure the information is provided accurately and in an accessible manner.
ULEZ operational costs:
Road User Charging Operational Costs cannot be directly identified per charging scheme, instead they are apportioned to charging schemes on the basis of chargeable vehicle volumes throughout the year. The relevant apportioned operating cost for the ULEZ expanded scheme from 25th October 21 to 31st March 22 is £16.2m.
ULEZ implementation costs:
We do not operate a separate, dedicated network of ULEZ cameras because, depending on their location, all of our cameras can be used to operate all our RUC schemes – which are the Central London Congestion Charging Scheme (CC), the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), the Greater London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and the Direct Vision Standards (DVS) and the HGV safety permit schemes.
While the cameras located in the central London zone were originally installed to monitor and enforce the CC, they now cover all RUC schemes. Cameras located outside the central London zone currently cover LEZ and DVS, and are also used to monitor and enforce the expanded ULEZ zone. In total, there are c.1500 cameras enforcing all schemes.
It is therefore not possible to identify the costs of the cameras specifically used for ULEZ enforcement, however the cost to deliver the ULEZ was c.£115m which includes the cost to supply and install all additional cameras and signs, back office systems and communication upgrades, marketing campaigns and all project overheads.
An expanded ULEZ and tighter standards for buses, coaches and lorries across London, in conjunction with the central London ULEZ, will transform the air that millions of Londoners breathe.We undertook a thorough and comprehensive assessment of the impacts of an expanded ULEZ based on highways, transport and air quality emission models. This was backed by surveys of Londoners to understand how people would choose to respond.
A full Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) on the health, air quality and economic impacts of ULEZ was also carried out by an independent consultancy. All this information was publicly available during the public consultation and thoroughly informed the Mayor’s decision.These assessments showed that all areas of London will benefit, with millions of Londoners living in areas of improved air quality and an expected 28 per cent reduction in road transport NOx emissions Londonwide.
The first month’s report for the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion to inner London was published in December 2021. The report can be found here: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/ulez_first_month_report_december_2021.pdf. This report highlights compliance rates (92 per cent in the month following expansion), the number of vehicles seen in the zone as well as preliminary traffic analysis. Future reports, starting with the Six Month Report due to be published this Summer, will continue to assess the impacts of the scheme, including emissions, to identify what trends emerge.
ULEZ income is used to fund schemes set out in the Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy. Further information about the air quality schemes being delivered by TfL can be found in our published budgets and business plans, which are available on our website at https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/business-plan.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
