Half (51%) of Londoners support the Mayor of London’s proposed expansion of the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ), new research suggests.

The YouGov survey, commissioned by City Hall, also reveals that more than a quarter of the 1,245 respondents (27%) opposed the plan, with more than one-in-five (22%) undecided.

Conducted separately to the consultation into the expansion of the ULEZ, launched by Transport for London (TfL) in May, the poll highlights how divided Londoners are on expanding the charging zone, which would come into effect from August 2023.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, says that expanding the ULEZ London-wide will have the biggest effect on emissions relative to the cost to Londoners as a whole, as well as helping to tackle the climate emergency and traffic congestion.

The current £12.50 daily charge level for cars, vans and motorbikes that do not meet the standards would be retained.

If a larger zone were introduced, TfL estimates that the number of cars not meeting the tough ULEZ standards each day in outer London would fall from 160,000 to 46,000 and the number of vans from 42,000 to 26,000.

Khan claims the City Hall poll clearly shows that Londoners now want the zone to be expanded. “In making my decision I will carefully consider all responses to the public consultation and Londoners’ views,” he added.

“I don’t want us to miss out on any opportunities to protect Londoners from toxic air so that we can continue building a healthier, cleaner and greener London for everyone.”

However, according to The Daily Telegraph, the TfL consultation, the results of which are yet to be published, shows that two-thirds (67%) of Londoners oppose his plans to combat air pollution in the outer boroughs of the capital. 

Of those, 60% oppose the expansion completely, while 7% say the plan should be delayed.

However, Khan told The Evening Standard that he believed the consultation, which closed at the end of July, had been “hijacked” by opponents, including people living outside London.

He is yet to receive the report on the consultation results from TfL — it is due by next month. The Mayor will then decide whether to press ahead with plans to expand the ULEZ across all 33 boroughs on August 29 next year.