Low emission zones
Pollution levels vary across Islington and London. This has led Islington and partners such as other London boroughs, the Mayor and TfL to introduce targeted schemes to try to make vehicle emissions as low as possible in zones that have high pollution levels.
The schemes often include working with residents and businesses as well as transforming the environment or restricting vehicle access in the zone. Islington has several road restriction schemes in place which aim to make vehicles cleaner and to reduce the pollution exposure of some of its most vulnerable residents.
London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)
The Ultra Low Emission Zone has expanded on 25 October 2021. The zone forms a single larger zone bounded by the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205). The North and South Circular Roads themselves aren’t included in the zone. The zone now includes the entire borough of Islington.
The ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends (except Christmas day), with a £12.50 daily charge for vehicles that don’t meet the required emissions standards.
Cars, motorcycles, vans and other specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes) need to meet the required ULEZ emissions standards when driving within and into the expanded zone, or pay a daily charge.
Non-ULEZ-compliant vehicles which are parked and out of use on a given day from 25 October 2021 aren’t required to pay the daily charge.
Check your vehicle
If you drive in Islington check if your vehicle is ULEZ compliant.
Additional ULEZ information
All relevant details including ULEZ standards, discounts, exemptions, penalties and enforcement can be found on Transport for London (TfL) website.
The report evaluating the impact of the newly expanded scheme shows that the scheme has been highly effective at driving reductions in the number of older, more polluting vehicles on London’s roads. Full report available here.
London Low Emission Zone
The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) operates to encourage the most polluting heavy diesel vehicles driving in London to become cleaner. The LEZ covers most of Greater London and is in operation 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
It is hoped that the LEZ and ULEZ will help to tackle London's toxic air by encouraging the most polluting vehicles to become cleaner.
Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Streets (joint project with Hackney council)
Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEV) Streets - a first of its kind joint initiative with Hackney Council affecting Tabernacle Street, Cowper Street and Singer Street in Islington. These streets have timed restrictions for most vehicles, between 7-10am and 4-7pm, Monday to Friday.
Access is restricted to ULEVs - vehicles that emit less than 75g/km CO2. This includes all (100%) electric and hydrogen vehicles and some of the ‘cleanest’, least polluting, hybrid vehicles. Find out more about how the area will be enforced and about exemptions to the scheme.
Find out more about how the area will be enforced and about exemptions to the scheme.
School Streets
This is where a road outside a school closes to all but pedestrians and cyclists during the schools opening and closing times. For more information on the scheme and which schools are taking part see the school streets web page.
People-friendly streets
We are introducing people-friendly streets neighbourhoods, sometimes called low traffic neighbourhoods, to the borough. By installing inexpensive measures like bollards and smart cameras, we are creating more space for everyone to enjoy their neighbourhoods as they walk, wheel and cycle around. For more information on the scheme and locations, visit our dedicated people-friendly streets page.