Hackney Support Fund: Greater Manchester taxi drivers urged to act quickly as £12,560 clean cab grants open
- Perry Richardson
- 2 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Taxi drivers across Greater Manchester are being encouraged to move swiftly to secure up to £12,560 in grant support as part of the region’s £8 million Hackney Support Fund, with early indications showing strong demand from the trade.
The funding, delivered through Greater Manchester’s investment-led Clean Air Plan, is designed to help licensed hackney carriage drivers replace older, higher-polluting diesel taxis with zero-exhaust-emission capable vehicles. Drivers selecting the LEVC TX as part of their application can access the full £12,560 grant, representing one of the most generous packages currently available to the taxi sector in England.
London EV Company confirmed that all eligible drivers have now been contacted directly by email with application details. Funding is being allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, which has heightened urgency among some drivers keen to lock in support before the pot is exhausted.
Once approved, drivers have a four-month window to use the grant, a timeframe intended to keep vehicle orders moving while giving operators sufficient time to complete the purchase process. Industry figures say this balance is critical in preventing delays that have previously slowed fleet renewal schemes elsewhere.
Funding is being allocated on a first-come basis as demand builds for the £8m Hackney Support Fund
The grant sits alongside manufacturer support from LEVC, which has committed up to £2 million in combined incentives for Greater Manchester drivers. These include extended warranties and scrappage allowances on used TX vehicles, further reducing the upfront cost of switching to a cleaner cab.
For working drivers, the £12,560 contribution can make the difference between staying in the trade or leaving it altogether. Rising vehicle costs, falling residual values for diesel taxis and tightening emissions standards have placed sustained pressure on earnings. By directly lowering the capital barrier, the scheme is seen as helping to stabilise driver numbers while modernising the fleet.
The contrast with London continues to be drawn by the trade. In the capital, declining grant support for black cab upgrades has been widely cited as a factor behind driver attrition, with many cabbies struggling to justify the cost of replacing compliant but ageing vehicles. Greater Manchester’s approach is being viewed as a clear signal that local authorities can pursue air quality goals without accelerating exits from the industry.
Officials have positioned the Hackney Support Fund as a practical transition tool rather than a short-term incentive. By coupling public funding with manufacturer backing and clear timelines, the region aims to retain experienced drivers, attract new entrants and maintain a viable, accessible taxi service as emissions standards tighten.
With applications now live and interest already high, drivers considering the switch are being advised to act promptly if they want to secure the full £12,560 support before funds are fully allocated.
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