GREEN MEANS GO
MANCHESTER TAXI DRIVERS STICK TO DIESEL AS ELECTRIC GRANTS STALL
Less than a third of taxi drivers in Greater Manchester (GM) are using new government-funded grants to switch to EVs, according to research by the Clean Cities Campaign. While an £8m Hackney Support Fund was launched to help clean up the region's air, data from January 2026 shows that the majority of cabbies are choosing to stick with traditional fossil fuels. Of the 193 grant applications approved so far, 131 will subsidise “compliant” Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel vehicles, while only 62 are being used for fully zero-emission models. Sarah Rowe of Clean Cities called the trend a “missed opportunity,”
noting that while London sees one in five taxis go electric, the figure for the rest of England remains as low as one in 100. “To lock them into fossil fuel- powered vehicles seems short- sighted at best,” she said, adding that a stronger push for electric cabs would “improve the health of all of us who breathe the air here in GM.”
The grants for purpose-built WAVs, which offer up to £12,560 for zero- emission capable models and roughly half that for newer diesel cars, are part of a wider investment-led Clean Air Plan. In an update on their plan, GM is to announce that they are delivering all the measures agreed with government to meet legal limits
for NO2, without the need for a charging CAZ. However, campaign groups argue that without better incentives for electrification, the city-region is failing to catch up. As Rowe put it: “It’s a shame that two-thirds of those taxis being upgraded will remain petrol and diesel.”
BURNHAM BACKS LOCAL CABBIES WITH £4.4M FUND AS WAR ON ‘WOLVERHAMPTON PROBLEM’ ESCALATES
Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has launched a multi- million-pound offensive to clean up the region’s private hire fleet while squeezing out-of-area drivers from local streets. Announcing a new £4.45m fund for PHVs on 30 January, the Mayor confirmed that drivers facing a 2026 deadline to meet emissions standards can now access £5,000 interest-free loans or £1,000 grants to modernise their cars. The financial lifeline, which mirrors an existing £8m package for black cabs, comes with a strict “locals only” caveat. In a direct shot at the thousands of drivers operating in the region while licensed elsewhere - most notably by the City of Wolverhampton Council - Burn-
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ham declared that the cash is only for “those who have done the right thing and licensed with our authorities in GM.” Addressing a GM Combined Auth- ority meeting in Stockport, he framed the move as a reward for loyalty, stating: “We believe this funding recognises what our trade has been through. It backs our trade.” The move is the latest escalation in a long-standing battle against the so-called “Wolverhampton prob- lem,” where nearly half of the PHVs currently operating in Greater Manchester are licensed by external authorities. While the government recently proposed streamlining licensing bodies from 263 down to 70 to help curb the practice,
Burnham argues that mere reduction is a half-measure. “It would not be good enough [to] just reduce,” the Mayor insisted, adding that “if reduce means practically end, that’s what we want.” The Mayor’s administration is now looking to the capital for support, partnering with TfL to lobby for a total ban via an amendment to the English Devolution and Com- munity Empowerment Bill. Reflecting on the frustrations of local operators, Burnham noted that “the challenge of out-of-area working is a significant complaint” and signalled that this funding is just one part of a broader strategy to ensure Greater Manchester’s streets are served by Greater Manchester’s drivers.
MARCH 2026 PHTM
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