ULEZ: Builders Merchants Federation warns of scheme’s ‘knock-on effect’ in letter to Sadiq Khan

A major trade assocation has called for the ULEZ expansion to be “reconsidered” in a letter to Sadiq Khan, as it warns of a potential “knock-on effect for end customers” if it goes ahead as planned.

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), which represents the interests of SME builders and other traders, wrote to the mayor of London requesting he push back his extension of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) due to the reliance of its members on non-compliant vehicles.

Currently, Mr Khan is intending on extending the ULEZ to incorporate the whole of greater London on August 29.

A judicial review launched by a coalition of opposing councils is scheduled to take place this summer, but Mr Khan has made clear he plans on pushing ahead with the expansion of the zone.

Once implemented, most of those driving non-compliant vehicles will have to pay the £12.50 daily charge. Mr Khan has said the decision to extend the ULEZ was a necessary one to clean up London’s air, though some groups, including several charities, have voiced their concerns.

In the letter to the mayor, John Newcomb, BMF’s chief executive, said: “This is likely to impact SME tradespeople operating within the M25 as a significant proportion rely on non-compliant vehicles for their work. We can foresee a reluctance on their part to accept new work within the greater London boundary.

“This will have a knock-on effect for end customers, who will find it more difficult and costly to get work done. It will also affect sales turnover at merchant outlets within the new boundary, which will have consequences on the amounts of stock held and on their staffing levels.

“We have, therefore, written to Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, calling for this policy to be reconsidered.”

Frank Elkins, chief operating officer of Travis Perkins, a BMF member, said: “Although we fully appreciate the need to drive the impact of emissions down across the whole country, we are asking for more time for residents, tradespersons and workers to be able to adapt.”

‘Necessary to tackle toxic air pollution’

Since announcing the ULEZ expansion last year, Mr Khan has been consistent in reiterating that the decision was a necessary, if difficult, one to make.

Research carried out by RAC suggested nearly 700,000 drivers in London would be liable to pay the £12.50 daily fee if the scheme is extended. However, City Hall’s own data indicated more than 90% of cars being driven in outer London now meet the ULEZ standards, a figure it said demonstrated “the effectiveness of the scheme”.

Responding to the BMF’s letter, a spokesperson for Mr Khan said: “The mayor has been clear that the decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide was not an easy one, but necessary to tackle toxic air pollution and the climate crisis.

“Around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to toxic air pollution, children are growing up with stunted lungs and thousands of people in our city are developing life-changing illnesses, such as cancer, lung disease, dementia and asthma. Expanding the ULEZ London-wide will enable five million more Londoners to breathe cleaner air.

“We know that many businesses, particularly small businesses and sole traders, are struggling as a result of the cost of living crisis. This is why the mayor has launched a £110 million scrappage scheme for micro-businesses and sole traders, as well as charities, Londoners on lower incomes and disabled Londoners.

“The mayor continues to call on government to further support the switch to cleaner vehicles through funding a targeted national scrappage scheme or providing additional funding to London as it has done for other cities across the country.”