Recent figures, published by Transport for London (TfL) show that only 32.5% of applications for the ULEZ scrappage scheme from Havering have been approved.

Since the Mayor of London first announced his decision to proceed with the ULEZ expansion Julia Lopez MP has highlighted with the Mayor that his scrappage scheme, providing a maximum of £2,000 towards the scrappage of a private car or £5,000 for those with wheelchair accessible vehicles, is insufficient and would not make a meaningful contribution towards the replacement of a vehicle.  This argument was reinforced by the Mayor’s decision to expand the scheme as only £25.3 million, of the £110 million fund, had been committed by 1 June, despite the scheme being open to applications from 30 January.

Figures released last week by TfL have given a breakdown of the applications received and approved by scheme type, applicant type and by borough. These statistics show that only 32.5% of applications from Havering between 30 January – 25 June 2023 were approved and that 42.4% of applications for cars & motorcycles were approved. However, for applications for vans & minibuses, used by sole traders, charities and microbusinesses this figure dropped to just 27.9%.

35.6% of all applications across London had been approved but this figure drops to just 30.9% for van & minibus applications. 43.7% of car & motorcycle applications had been approved.

Sole traders are the community worst served by scrappage scheme applications, with around a quarter 25.9% of applications from sole traders across London approved.  Charities have fared only slightly better with around a third (33.3%) of applications being approved.

Users of wheelchair accessible vehicles are able to apply for a grace period, exempting them from the ULEZ until October 2027, however only 27.9% of grace period applications from users of these vehicles have been approved.

Collectively, these figures demonstrate that the scrappage scheme, the primary mitigation against the Mayor’s effective imposition of a £12.50 daily tax to many Londoners, is failing to get support to those that need it.