Edinburgh’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) has had a profound impact in its first year of enforcement, according to a new study and supporting data which show a clear “statistically significant” shift towards active travel and reduced use of private vehicles.

The LEZ, which came into force on 1 June 2024 following a two-year grace period, covers the entirety of Princes Street and the Old Town, including Edinburgh Waverley Station, St James Quarter, the Scottish Parliament, and Edinburgh Castle.

A report by the Institute of Occupational Medicine found that during the first six months of enforcement, there was a marked increase in walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport use within the LEZ, with a notable drop in car usage — findings which have been welcomed by both NHS Lothian and Asthma + Lung UK.

NHS Lothian’s Consultant in Public Health, Flora Ogilvie, said: “It’s great to know that the LEZ enforcement has been in place for a year, helping to improve air quality in the city and protect the health of our most vulnerable residents.

“Improving air quality and reducing traffic levels are also an important way of encouraging more people to travel by walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport. Travelling sustainably can help improve individual physical activity levels and mental wellbeing, as well as supporting better environmental health for the whole population and planet.”

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Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, added: “With air pollution cutting short thousands of lives a year, we want to see our cities become far healthier places, where people can walk and cycle and not be forced to breathe in dirty air. With 1 in 5 people in Scotland developing a lung condition like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in their lifetime, for them, air pollution can trigger life-threatening asthma attacks and flare-ups.”

“Children are more susceptible to air pollution as their lungs are still growing, and they also breathe faster than adults. As they grow, toxic air can stunt the growth of their lungs, making them less resilient into adulthood and placing them at greater risk of lung disease in the future.”

Children from Scottish Cycling at Edinburgh’s 2027 Tour de France announcement
Children from Scottish Cycling at Edinburgh’s 2027 Tour de France announcement (Image Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

The LEZ’s impact on vehicle compliance has also been significant. According to the council, more than 6,000 fines (starting at £60, and then doubling for each further breach within 90 days) were issued in the first month of enforcement alone, with 5,756 of these being first contravention fines and 274 to second offenders.

The latest report shows that the average amount of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued for non-compliant vehicles entering the zone has decreased by 56 per cent between June 2024 and January 2025. The vast majority of vehicles entering the zone — over 95 per cent — are compliant, while around three per cent are exempted.

PCN data show that 77 per cent of fines were served to private cars, 21 per cent to light goods vehicles, and the remaining two per cent to other vehicle classes. 62.4 per cent of fines are paid within 14 days at the discounted rate, with the income used first to cover operation and maintenance costs, while any surplus is directed towards climate-related projects.

Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, City of Edinburgh Council’s Transport and Environment Convener, said that that Edinburgh, along with Dundee and Aberdeen took the bold step of banning most cars from its city centre last year, thus joining Glasgow which had implemented its own LEZ in 2023.

He added that as Scotland’s capital city (which, by the way, is set to host the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ for both men’s and women’s races), the councillors have a “duty to lead on the response to the climate and nature emergencies which will define out country for generations to come”.

“Road traffic is one of the main sources of harmful emissions that are damaging people’s health and contributing to climate change,” said Jenkinson. “The average decrease in PCNs here in Edinburgh show that people are getting used to the LEZ and modifying their habits accordingly. It’s also encouraging to see studies showing a positive shift towards greater use of active travel and public transport.”

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Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised about the safety of cycling infrastructure in the city. A cycle lane on London Road was left severely damaged earlier this year, reportedly after “something large and heavy” shunted the blocks, forming a zigzag pattern that forced cyclists to swerve around them.

Councillor Jenkinson promised repairs and said “additional strengthening measures” would be implemented, adding: “Safety for all road users remains a key priority for us.”

Later this year, the council will present a detailed report to the Scottish Parliament on the LEZ’s air quality impact, carbon reduction progress, PCN numbers, costs, and more. In parallel, the Low Emission Zone Support Fund has resumed and is accepting applications for households, businesses, and retrofitting vehicles, with details available on the Energy Saving Trust website.

Air pollution remains the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, linked to between 29,000 and 43,000 deaths each year, with the World Health Organization and the UK Government both acknowledging that LEZs like Edinburgh’s are crucial tools to tackle the issue.