With effect from 1^st September construction site managers throughout London will now be required to retrofit or replace old, polluting machinery in a world-first step to help clean up the capital’s air and reduce damaging emissions from diggers, bulldozers and related vehicles.

The Low Emission Zone for construction machinery are aimed at complementing the Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s efforts to reduce emissions from transport, including the introduction of an Ultra-Low Emission Zone in central London from 2020.

Under the new rules, all construction sites in the centre of London and sites building more than ten homes or larger than 1,000 square feet in Greater London will have to replace or retrofit polluting equipment which is more than 10 years old. Some exemptions will be provided where pieces of equipment are not available at the emission standard stipulated or in the volumes required to meet demand in a construction environment as dynamic as London’s.

Currently, it is estimated up to 12 per cent of nitrogen oxide and 15 per cent of particulate pollution in London come from construction and demolition activity - London is the first city in the world to impose emissions standards for construction equipment which address both pollutants. 

The new Low Emission Zone for construction machinery is expected to cut particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions by nearly 50 per cent by 2020.

To help with implementation of the scheme a new online register has been set up at nrmm.london, making it easy for site managers to register all construction machinery within the London catchment area. After an initial six-month introductory period focusing on education and awareness-raising, if a site does not meet the emissions standards required, its managers will be in breach of their planning requirements as imposed by the relevant borough.

Penalties could include a delay to the final completion of a project which could have an implied financial cost for the company concerned. Penalties will depend on the individual borough and their development control team. In the longer-term, as part of the Government’s devolution efforts, the GLA is seeking additional powers to enable centralised implementation and enforcement of the scheme, including a standardised approach to penalties including fines.

Managing Director of the Construction Plant-hire Association Colin Wood said:

“We are pleased to support the Low Emission Zone for construction machinery, having worked collaboratively with the Greater London Authority on its development. We are committed to working with the industry to help them improve London’s air quality.”

Construction site managers who want to check the rules affecting their specific pieces of equipment click here