Plant hire and equipment bodies urge GLA to rethink London NRMM emission zone

Four construction equipment trade bodies, which say they represent more than 2,300 businesses, have jointly written to the Greater London Authority (GLA) calling for a rethink of the future direction of London's Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) Emission Zone.

The letter was submitted by the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA), the Construction Equipment Association (CEA), the Association of Manufacturers and suppliers of Power generating Systems (AMPS) and the Environmental Industries Association (EIA), the CPA said in a post published on 28 October.

The four bodies are collectively calling for six things: better engagement with industry, more effective enforcement focused on real-world compliance, less administrative burden, a clearer exemption policy, policy focused on where environmental improvements are most cost-effective, and recognition of a broader range of technologies and fuels.

"London has been a leader in reducing emissions from construction machinery. We want it to remain one, but the next phase needs to be based on what can practically scale, not simply what looks ambitious on paper," the CPA said in its post.

The six points

The call for better engagement and clearer exemptions sits alongside a call for enforcement that concentrates on what happens on site. According to the CPA's own guidance on the zone, local authority enforcement officers already carry out routine site visits to check compliance.

The CPA's guidance also says the GLA has no statutory power to levy charges under the scheme, because the rules are made under planning legislation.

Separately, the same CPA guidance says Stage V generators are often not compatible with long periods of low loading, which can cause exhaust blockages and damage to the asset.

"Ambition is important, but it has to be deliverable," the CPA said.

The deadlines

According to the CPA, a Low Emission Zone for NRMM has covered the whole of Greater London since 2015.

The CPA says that from 1 January 2030 all NRMM within Greater London will need to meet Stage V as a minimum. It also says the Mayor of London aims for London to be zero emissions from NRMM by 1 January 2040.

The CPA's post does not say when the GLA is expected to respond to the letter, and no named signatory or spokesperson is given. The full letter is available through the CPA's post.

Who is behind the letter

The CPA, founded in 1941, says its almost 2,000 members collectively supply over 85% of the plant hired to the construction industry.

The CEA describes itself as the trade association representing the UK construction equipment market and says it has been the voice of that market since 1942.

Together with AMPS and the EIA, the four organisations say they represent more than 2,300 businesses across the construction equipment supply chain.