Greater Manchester’s clean air plan has brought massive improvements to air quality around the region, new data shows. The number of times air quality has exceeded legal limits of nitrogen dioxide is plummeting, from 129 recorded breaches in 2019 to just 11 in 2025. Of the roads which exceeded the legal limits in 2025, nine were based in Manchester, with one each in Oldham and Stockport.
Costs and Funding
Costs for the region’s clean air plan are rising, and have hit £110m. A further £77m could be spent on the plan up to the entire allocated budget. The GMCA report stated: "The overall financial position remains within the approved government funding envelope. To the end of March 2026, expenditure stood at £110.7m against total central government funding of £188.4m, with the remaining funding primarily linked to delivery of the investment-led measures during 2026."
Scrapped Charging Plans and Investment-Led Approach
It was confirmed in January 2025 that plans to charge motorists for driving on the region's roads would be scrapped in favour of an investment-led clean air plan. Efforts made to improve air quality in the region have included rolling out electric buses, as well as grants for taxi drivers to ditch older vehicles for cleaner ones. That’s alongside separate schemes such as the continued rollout of active travel infrastructure, with a boost to cycle lanes at key transport corridors such as Deansgate and Chapel Street in Salford, among other areas.
Remaining Problem Areas
A Greater Manchester Combined Authority report showed there are still problem areas in the region which need more attention over air quality. Plans include ‘signal optimisation’ along Cheetham Hill Road (A665) to reduce stationary traffic, and further monitoring along key routes such as the Mancunian Way (A57), Shudehill, and Great Ancoats Street. Two roads in Stockport are also set for further changes, with optimised traffic signals on St Mary’s Way (A626) and on the A34 Kingsway.
Official Response
A Clean Air Greater Manchester spokesperson said: “Air quality data for 2025 shows positive progress across Greater Manchester. In the Clean Air Plan monitoring data, there are now just 11 roadside locations where nitrogen dioxide is above the legal limit, down from 38 in 2024 and 64 in 2023. Separate monitoring – which focuses on locations near to where people are most exposed to pollution, such as near homes, schools, hospitals and care settings – shows that, for the first time, there are no locations reporting illegal levels of air pollution. We're continuing to deliver the investment-led clean air plan for the city region, with major investment in the Bee Network putting us on track to meet legal air quality limits by the end of 2026. Around 400 electric buses are now serving our communities, helping to cut emissions and improve air quality on some of our busiest roads. We will keep working with partners across the city region to bring the remaining areas into compliance and continue improving the air people breathe every day."
