The introduction of Greater Manchester's Clean Air Zone is being delayed, the government has announced.
The controversial scheme was due to come into force in May, but the GMCA has now been given until July to submit a revised plan.
The announcement comes a day after hundreds of taxi drivers protested against the proposals, while Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham urged the government to 'take the politics out' of the situation and work together on a solution.
READ MORE: Tributes paid to woman, 36, at centre of murder and rape investigation
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: "The government has carefully considered the Mayor’s proposal and following meetings last week and further discussions today, the Environment Secretary has agreed to allow a short delay to the implementation of the Clean Air Zone.
"This will allow Greater Manchester to provide further evidence and a revised plan by July setting out how it will deliver legal levels of NO2 as soon as possible, and no later than 2026."
A joint statement from Mr Burnham, Coun Andrew Western, GMCA's lead for clean air, and Jo Churchill, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Defra, read: "Air quality is one of our biggest health challenges and we are all completely committed to tackling it.
"We have agreed to a short time-limited pause. We will work together to deliver, by the middle of the year, a plan for clean air for Greater Manchester, one that is fair to the businesses and residents of the city-region.
""We will deliver improved air quality as soon as possible, not losing ambition but ensuring we take into account the pandemic, global supply chain challenges, improvements already baked into retrofits and the scope as previously laid out.
"We will now work jointly to meet the Greater Manchester and Government requirements on clean air, as soon as possible, and no
later than 2026."
Under the initial Clean Air Zone plans, drivers of ‘non-compliant’ vans and taxis would have been charged when driving into or within Greater Manchester from May.
What do you think of the decision? Have your say below
The charges include a £60 fee for buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles, £10 for vans and minibuses and £7.50 for Hackney cabs and private hire vehicles.
The plans are aimed at slashing high levels of air pollution in the area, with it estimated to cause 1,000 deaths a year here and with the region having 152 separate stretches of road on which nitrogen dioxide is at illegally high levels.
But it comes at an uncertain time while the world continues to struggle to respond to the pandemic.
During a visit to Greater Manchester yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the plan needed to be put on hold to 'avoid stuffing up businesses'.
The Prime Minister had previously branded the plan, which would see the most polluting vehicles having to pay £60 a day, 'completely unworkable'.
