Greater London Authority (GLA) Emissions

1st January 2025

From the 1st January 2025, the London NRMM emission standards will increase to EU Stage IV as a minimum across all of London. Generators are already required to meet EU Stage V levels, which will continue to be the case after 1st January 2025. The Greater London Authority (GLA) has asked that any machine which do not comply with the new standards be replaced before this date. Where this is not possible, the contractor will need to apply for an exemption for that machine, stating the reaasons why they cannot replace that machine with a compliant machine. The standards will still only apply to machines on construction/demolition sites, and only those with a rated engine power between 37kW - 560kW. 

If a company has any concerns about being compliant, then they should contact the GLA.

 

Currently, the GLA is continuing with their emission policy as detailed in the table below. 

Exemption applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and sites must include the following evidence in their application:

- Correspondence with the supplier demonstrating that the site has asked for Stage V, but the supplier currently doesn't have a suitable Stage V available.

- Details of the supplier's Stage V current fleet and order to demonstrate that the supplier is quickly moving towards a Stage V fleet.

- If the supplier has Stage V in their fleet, but these are not suitable for the power demand on site, the site/supplier must also provide loading data to demonstrate the Stage V loading issues, and that bolt-on Battery and/or Fly-wheel technologies will not resolve those loading issues. 

Exemptions can only be applied for on the Mayor of London's NRMM Register

This will also apply to generators powering Tower Cranes from 1st January 2024.

 

As from January 1st 2025, the Greater London Authority (GLA) now stipulates higher controls on exhaust emissions from construction plant. All NRMM (Non-Road Mobile Machinery) will be required to meet Stage IV as a minimum.

If companies have any specific queries about the machinery on site, then they can contact NRMM@london.gov.uk

The following table shows the current and proposed requirements.

 
Date of Application Central London, Canary Wharf & Opportunity Areas (OAs) Sites in Greater London

Present 

Note: Generator Stage V requirements as from 1st January 2024 unless exempt.

 IV  IIIB
From January 1st 2025 IV IV
From January 1st 2030 V V

 

Further information on NRMM emissions and Opportunity Areas can be found on the Mayor of London, London Assembly website - GLA's NRMM information

Other local authorities are considering introducing controls on emission from construction machinery, and they will be strongly influenced by the GLA policy. This means that areas outside London may also be affected by these changes.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q) We do not hire cranes, we specialise in MEWPs (Mobile Elevating Work Platforms).  Do these come within scope of the proposals?

A) MEWPs do come within the general requirements from 2015, and the step change in 2020. CPA will be talking with IPAF and other industry bodies to help prepare the sector. The particular change that GLA are considering in 2018 applies only to the (current) exemption for mobile cranes, and has no impact on MEWPs.

Q) What about Crawler Cranes that do not travel on the road. Is anyone making it clear that there is a difference?

A) There was a block exemption for crawler cranes when the controls were first introduced in 2015. However, this was removed in 2016 because GLA had evidence that sufficient crawler cranes were available to meet demand, and there was no continuing justification for the block exemption. It is possible for a site to request exemptions for machines, but this has to be done on a case-by-case basis. 

Q) Are GLA looking for a total ban or will there be a daily charge?

A) The GLA do not have the statutory powers to levy any charges for this, as the rules are made under planning legislation. The principle is that it is a total ban, although sites can apply for exemption for particular machines on a case-by-case basis.