New clean air project funded by the government announced

By Frank Pachas

Westminster City Council will lead a new air clean project funded by the government following successful air quality projects in Lambeth, Lewisham and the City of Westminster.

Non-profit Cross River Partnership (CRP) will launch a project known as Clean Air Villages 4 (CAV4) after securing funding from an air quality grant scheme.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will fund CAV4 to deliver sustainable freight solutions to clean the air in Lambeth, Merton, Wandsworth, and Hammersmith and Fulham.

CRP project manager Kate Fenton said: “CRP is really pleased to successfully receive the Defra Air Quality fund, once again to deliver the Clean Air Villages project with 23 partners.

“We are keen to work on both a local and cross-borough level in London on freight solutions that will result in better air quality.”

CAV4 aims to target areas with high human exposure to poor air quality and will provide them with robust air policies, zero emission modes of transport and technological transport support.

CAV1 CAV2 and CAV3 projects were led by Lambeth, Lewisham and the City of Westminster respectively and delivered air quality solutions since 2018.

Their solutions consisted of multiple shared electric vans for local businesses, 9 zero-emission cargo bike schemes and clear air routes for air pollution hot-spots.

A DEFRA-funded online directory of companies and manufacturers offering ultra-low emission deliveries and services was also part of the projects.

Originally formed to implement cross river infrastructure projects such as the Millennium Bridge, now CRP is committed to implement solutions that will result in fewer polluting emissions.