Manchester City Council and NCP Manchester Limited (NML) are launching the UK’s first ‘Green Badge Parking’ (GBP) scheme that offers a substantial discount in parking fees to drivers who use more environmentally friendly vehicles. From Tuesday 10 July commuters who run low emission cars will be able to take advantage of a special offer giving a 25% reduction in the cost of an annual season ticket in all NCP’s main car parks in Manchester city centre.
Owners of vehicles with emissions of less than 120g/km (CO2) and 0.02 (particulates) will be entitled to the discount – with some drivers saving over £900 per year by using a greener vehicle. The launch of the scheme follows a recent survey of nearly 35,000 cars parked in Manchester, which revealed only 2.2% were classed as low emission.
GBP is the first scheme of its type in the UK to encourage drivers to switch to lower emission petrol or diesel cars rather than simply penalise those that run ‘gas guzzlers’. It is hoped that the scheme will increase the number of drivers choosing to buy low-emission cars by between 2% and 5%.
Councillor Neil Swannick, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Environment said: “Manchester has committed itself to becoming the greenest city in Britain and this is just one of many steps we are taking that has a direct impact on climate change.
“While using public transport is the best way to travel, we recognise that this isn’t practical for everyone and we have identified cheaper parking as a positive way to reward drivers that help cut emissions.”
“We hope that this scheme will be the first of many across Greater Manchester, and we are working with the Manchester is my Planet campaign to share our experience across the region”
Paddy Dyson from NCP Manchester Limited said: “NCP Manchester is proud to have joined forces with Manchester City Council to launch this unique scheme. We recognise that it is in everyone’s interest to reduce the impact on the environment, and offering a substantial discount to drivers that choose a low emission car is a simple and effective way that we as a responsible business can help make a difference.”
