1.4 million fund for six "Neighbourhoods of the Future" to improve air quality in London

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has announced a £1.4 million fund, which will be matched by the London boroughs involved and Heathrow airport by additional £1.1 million. The aim of this fund is to increase the use of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) through development of necessary infrastructure, such as "electric streets" which have high concentration of vehicle charging points; zero emissions zones as well as trials of new technologies such as ultra-low emission HGV. This project aims to improve the clean energy awareness within the community, improve the quality of air in the area, increasing the quality of life.

The six "Neighbourhoods of the Future" are:

• Hammersmith & Fullham - £210,000 fund for zero emission zone for Hammersmith town centre, with the development of standard and rapid charging points for electric vehicles and sustainable urban drainage;
• Heathrow airport - £130,000 fund for trialing the UK's first hydrogen-diesel powered vans as a part of the Airport's delivery consolidation centre;
• Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets - £1,198,000 for the development of electric streets with charging points and electric-vehicle parking only zones;
• Harrow - £230,000 for training of mechanics to service ULEVs and electric cars and installation of electric vehicle charging points in the town centre; trial of electric vehicles for local businesses;
• Haringey - £609,000 for trial project of clean energy charging systems with a rapid charge taxi tank; engagement with businesses and local communities to improve the clean technology awareness and induce behaviour change;
• Croydon & Sutton - £123,000 fund to loan electric vans and trucks to Beddington Industrial area to reduce pollution in Croydon town centre.

The deputy mayor for environment and energy, Shirley Rodrigues, said: "These six innovative schemes will play a direct role in cleaning up toxic air in neighbourhoods across London, and could lead the way for similar schemes across the UK. It's only by working closely with councils, businesses and local communities across London that we can fulfil our ambition of being a world leader in tackling the air pollution crisis."

The transport minister, John Hayes, added: "We are determined to drive the take-up of low emission vehicles to improve London air quality and boost quality of life. We are investing nearly £600 million in this Parliament to encourage people to switch to greener vehicles, including £13 million to encourage Londoners to go electric. The Neighbourhoods of the Future scheme will further help cut harmful emissions in the capital."