Council calls for delays to taxi emissions standards after trade plea and cross-border concerns

The North West Leicestershire District Council has proposed a 12-month delay in implementing its emissions standards for Hackney Carriage and private hire vehicles.

The new requirements, initially set to come into force from January 2025, would have required all licensed vehicles to meet Euro 6 emissions standards. This now looks set to be pushed back to January 2026 following a request from the local taxi trade.

The call to delay follows concerns raised by the area's largest taxi firm. With 17 vehicles needing upgrades at an estimated cost of £150,000, the firm argued that compliance within the original timeframe was unrealistic, especially given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the trade. The council acknowledged the financial burden, noting that forcing early compliance could lead to a loss of drivers and a reduction in taxi availability.

This policy change marks a return to the original plan set out in 2020, before it was brought forward by a year. Officers, after considering the current challenges faced by the taxi trade, recommended the extension, highlighting that a delay could help stabilise the sector without jeopardising public access to taxis.

Benchmarking against neighbouring councils further influenced the decision. Many councils in the region set similar emissions standards, but also place a strong focus on vehicle age limits. Comparatively, the North West Leicestershire District Council's policy remains progressive but flexible with the 12-month extension.

Concerns also exist over the risk of cross-border licensing. There is potential for drivers to opt for licensing authorities with less stringent standards, effectively avoiding the council's emissions requirements. Officers worry that such a move could reduce their ability to oversee safety and compliance of vehicles operating in the district.

While the council pushes back its emissions deadline, it continues to encourage operators to retrofit older vehicles. Retrofit systems are available for approximately £459, which may help bring vehicles into compliance without complete replacement.

The council aims to maintain a balance—advancing environmental goals while allowing the local taxi trade enough time to adjust. However, with 42 vehicles in the district currently falling short of Euro 6 standards, many eyes will be on the industry’s progress over the coming year. The council’s final push to implement the policy in 2026 aims to create a cleaner, greener service for local residents without imposing insurmountable costs on providers.