Ulez expansion led to significant drop in air pollutants in London, report finds

City Hall said the improvements in air quality had exceeded the targets it had set in its consultation before the policy was implemented last year. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Levels of harmful air pollutants have dropped significantly since the ultra-low emission zone was enlarged to cover Greater London last year, according to a report from city hall.

Analysis covering the first six months since the Ulez expansion found that total emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from cars across London were 13% lower than projected had the scheme remained confined to inner London, while NOx from vans was 7% lower.