In response to DEFRA's UK Air Quality Plan in December 2015, Southampton will be one of five cities required to create a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) within which penalty charges will be implemented for the most polluting HGV's, buses and taxis by 2020.

Although the government have not finalised the framework or regulations to enable the introduction of the CAZ and the penalty charging system, Southampton City Council (SCC) are taking the first steps in the process of determining how the CAZ might work. SCC have confirmed that they will not be requring all taxis in Southampton to be either LPG or electric. Diesel taxis of a Euro 6 standard or Euro 4 petrol and above will not be penalised. However they are working on a number of initiatives to support and promote the use of ultra-low emission vehicles across the whole city fleet, including taxis and private hire vehicles.

As an issue which could significantly affect Southampton Hackney Carriage members, the SHA will be working alongside Southampton City Council in adopting a policy on emmisions in order to improve the quality of our city's air.