Bolton to drop hackney age limits and set 2030 emissions deadline in Clean Air Plan update
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 18
- 2 min read
Bolton Council are set to remove its hackney carriage age policy and introduce a single emissions standard across hackney and private hire fleets, with a final compliance date of 31 August 2030. A committee report for the Licensing and Environmental Regulation Committee sets out the proposals linked to Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan and funding position.
The report recommends adopting a minimum Euro 6 for diesel and Euro 4 for petrol across all licensed vehicles. The paper advises that a 2030 deadline would allow licence holders time to plan while aligning with regional clean air objectives and Department for Transport guidance on emissions and age limits.
If councillors fail to agree to remove hackney age limits, the fall-back proposal would require all hackney vehicles to meet the emissions policy by 31 December 2026. Either way, discretion could be applied by the Director of Place in exceptional cases where supply issues prevent proprietors sourcing compliant vehicles.
The update follows Government acceptance in January 2025 of an investment-led approach that includes £8 million for hackney carriage upgrades across Greater Manchester. The original £30.5 million ask to support both hackney and private hire was not agreed, with the Government pointing to high private hire compliance achieved without funding.
Under current proposals, indicative grants per vehicle include £12,560 for a zero-emission wheelchair accessible hackney, £6,280 for an emissions-compliant purpose-built wheelchair accessible hackney, £7,530 for a zero-emission non-wheelchair vehicle, £3,770 for an emissions-compliant non-wheelchair vehicle, and £6,280 for an emissions-compliant replacement with six or more seats. The fund may be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Trade engagement is ongoing across the city region. A 12-week programme led by Arup and Aecom is gathering views on how to deploy the hackney fund and whether any support should extend to non-compliant private hire vehicles. The campaign Backing Our Taxis: Local. Licensed. Trusted is also calling for national legislative change to tackle out-of-area licensing.
Locally, Bolton’s latest figures show nine compliant and 54 non-compliant hackneys, and 1,189 compliant and 319 non-compliant private hire vehicles. The report argues that extending the emissions deadline from 31 December 2025 to 31 December 2026 would be a proportionate step while wider funding and engagement outcomes are finalised.
Removing hackney age limits would replace the current maximum age approach, first set in 2004, with an emissions-based standard. The paper notes that all licensed hackneys in Bolton are purpose-built and wheelchair accessible, with vehicle costs and availability a key concern for proprietors. Twice-yearly compliance testing and MOT requirements would remain in place.
