Published on
January 24, 2020
Thessaly Road in Nine Elms will get additional measures to improve air quality after Wandsworth Council’s investment was boosted by a Business Low Emission Neighbourhood grant from the Mayor of London.
The business-led scheme includes proposals for ‘greening’ initiatives, an active travel clean air route, school air quality audits and support for local businesses to switch to low emission fleet vehicles.
To deliver a series of improvements and initiatives in Thessaly Road over the next three years, Wandsworth Council is adding a further £355,000 from developer contributions on top of the Mayor’s £333,000 fund.
Involving local businesses, residents and schools, the council is now developing proposals for improving open spaces and the public realm as well as helping businesses to reduce their impact on air quality.
The proposals include a Zero Emission Zone for local schools as well as green screening and anti-idling awareness.
Councillor Ravi Govindia, Leader of Wandsworth Council said: “We have always held aspirations for this area to be a low emissions neighbourhood, so we are pleased that the Mayor is supporting our work to improve the environment around Thessaly Road for the benefit of the local community.
“Managing emissions and improving air quality is our key priority here as regeneration continues in Battersea and Nine Elms. I’m keen to see the development of healthy streets whilst working together with developments and businesses to deliver our environmental promises to the people who live and work here.”
The project will also support local businesses in the Thessaly Road and Stewart’s Road areas to prepare for the Ultra Low Emissions Zone in 2021 and the tightening of the London-wide Low Emission Zone this October.
The proposals to improve the infrastructure and public realm are part of major Wandsworth Council investment in Nine Elms, ahead of the Northern Line Extension opening in 2021 and continuing development across the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea Opportunity Area.
This initiative supports Wandsworth Council’s declaration of a climate emergency and the work it is doing to be the greenest borough in inner London, carbon neutral by 2030 and a zero-emission council by 2050.
Read about Wandsworth Council’s climate change action plan.
The Mayor also announced he will double payments for his van scrappage scheme to £7,000, with £9,500 also now available to those switching to electric vans, as well as broadening the eligibility for the van scrappage scheme so that more businesses can benefit.
Find out more about the scrappage scheme for businesses.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “Our dirty air is a national health crisis that contributes to thousands of premature deaths ever year. While bold action such as our Ultra Low Emission Zone is starting to make a difference in London, I want to ensure there is help for businesses making the switch to cleaner greener vehicles – whether you rely on a van, lorry or coach.
“While we’re doing all we can in the capital, we now need the Government to match our levels of ambition and fund a national scrappage scheme that supports all those small businesses who want to do the right thing and switch to cleaner vehicles across the UK.”
Check the TfL website for information on the Ultra Low Emission Zone
