Small businesses can bid for grants to replace their vehicles with electric vans in preperation for the expansion of the ULEZ.

The ULEZ was introduced by the Mayor of London in April 2019, and will be expanded to the North and South Circulars next year.

Small and micro businesses will now be eligible to bid for van scrappage scheme payments of up to £7,000, with grants of £9,500 also available to those switching to electric vans.

London Assembly Member for Waltham Forest, Jennette Arnold OBE AM, said: “With tighter emissions standards and an expanded ULEZ soon to come into force, it is important that local drivers and businesses are prepared.

“It is great to see that those looking to upgrade their vehicles or clean up their commercial fleets are being given an extra helping hand through City Hall’s extended scrappage scheme.

"The measures being taken by City Hall to clean up London’s air, such as the ULEZ, are already beginning to make a huge difference.

“With air pollution contributing to the premature deaths of almost 10,000 Londoners per year, it is vital that we continue to push forward with ambitious environmental policies that will help the capital to breathe easier”.

This follows on from the launch of a separate £25 million polluting vehicle fund last October, aimed at helping low-income and disabled Londoners scrap older cars and motorcycles.

This week, new funding totalling £325 000 has also been invested through the Mayor’s London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP) into delivering a Business Low Emission Neighbourhood around Leytonstone High Rd and Church Lane.

Eligible Londoners and businesses can apply for vehicle scrappage scheme funding through the Transport for London (TfL) website.