Newham to strengthen emissions-based parking charges to tackle the climate emergency, poor air quality and promote a healthier, greener borough

Today (6 May 2025) Newham Council Cabinet voted to strengthen the borough's CO2 emissions charges, in line with other London boroughs, to increase the incentives for drivers to use greener vehicles which have a lesser impact on climate change and have a smaller impact on local air quality.  

Reducing emissions from vehicles is important. For the last decade, transport has been the largest emitting sector in the UK, accounting for about a quarter of all UK greenhouse gas emissions, and levels of emissions have remained relatively static throughout this period. These changes ensure that residents and visitors to Newham are encouraged to adopt environmentally friendly transport, contributing to both cleaner air and reduced CO₂ emissions.  
  
Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children’s Services and Education said: “We know that encouraging people to move away from higher polluting vehicles does have a significant impact on the quality of the air we all breathe. We have seen the introduction of the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) across inner and outer London has led to a direct reduction in the harmful gasses and particulates in Newham that most affect our most vulnerable residents.  
  
“These policies are designed not to punish but to change behaviour, pointing those who do drive towards more eco-friendly vehicles, at the same time as making it safer, healthier and more pleasant for the majority who rely on walking, cycling and public transport to get around.”  
  
“Any income from parking permits is specifically ring-fenced for environment and sustainable transport policies, including school crossing patrols, road maintenance, environmental improvements, and Freedom Passes, where the Council is expected to spend around £12million to subsidise the mobility of Newham’s pensioners.”  

Under the plans, which will be consulted on resident drivers of low emission vehicles will see their charges frozen, while drivers of high-emitting vehicles will pay an extra £4.40 a month. Prices will remain below the average charges of neighbouring boroughs, and will be cheaper than Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Greenwich.  
  
These changes complement plans agreed by Cabinet last December, which approved a bold set of changes to Parking Charges aimed at improving the health and safety of residents in the borough, through the introduction of a borough-wide diesel surcharge.   

The report also recommends the adoption in full of proposals for changes to visitor permits brought forward by nearly 500 residents in response to a recent consultation in March. 

These changes will see the existing 6, 12 and 24-hour visitor permits remain, and will also see a new 1-hour permit introduced for short visits, which will help reduce costs for residents.
  
The bulk of the proposals outlined in this report support the aims of our Just Transition Plan and are yet another demonstration of our commitment to tackling the climate emergency.   
  
 The proposed charges will apply to all permit types – the below table shows what is being proposed for resident permits.  

• Charges are based on vehicle engine size where CO2 emissions data is not available.