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Transport bids

We submit funding bids to the government, European Union and elsewhere to help us deliver transport infrastructure improvements and major projects.

Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas Scheme (ZEBRA) 

In partnership with FirstBus and Arriva, we have submitted a full business case to the Department of Transport for around £19m of government funding to assist in the purchase of 96 fully electric buses and charging equipment. 

The results of this bidding process are expected by the end of September 2021. If successful the buses will come into operation by September 2023. 

The executive summary of this bid and other documents can be found at the bottom of this page (with commercially sensitive redaction). Further details of the full bid to follow shortly.  

Details of the wider ZEBRA bidding process can be found at GOV.UK.

Go Ultra Low City scheme

On 2 October 2015, we submitted a bid to the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) for a share of £35 million to help us implement measures across the city. We should hear by the end of the year if we've been successful.

We’re bidding for £11.7 million so we can deliver a five year programme to transform the electric plug-in car market in Leicester, increase take up of Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) and support business growth and employment.

If we’re successful, OLEV funding will be matched by approximately £5.9 million of council funds and over £12 million from potential partners. 

Our Go Ultra Low Leicester project focuses on:

  • Increasing take up of ULEV. We’re aiming for 10,000 new registrations of ULEVs in the city by April 2021.
  • Increasing the number of charge points across Leicester to over 10,800. 10,000 of these will be associated with increased uptake of ULEV.
  • Promoting local creativity and innovation to help remove barriers to ULEV uptake and market the benefits of new low carbon technologies.
  • Achieving measurable improvements in air quality by reducing nitrogen dioxide and reducing carbon emissions to help deliver our climate change targets.
  • Ensuring our activity is closely linked to other schemes in Leicester to help improve local air quality, reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable transport options.
  • Undertaking an effective monitoring, evaluation and review programme to ensure the project remains on course to deliver its objectives.
  • Achieving exemplar status for Leicester for the promotion and take up of ULEV across the city.

Clean Bus Technology Fund

We were notified on 3 January 2016 that we have successfully obtained Department for Transport (DfT) funding from the Clean Bus Technology Fund (CBTF). This fund was set up by government to upgrade local buses to reduce polluting emissions from exhausts that affect local air quality.

Our bid was produced in partnership with Centrebus Ltd, who will be retro-fitting five Euro III buses with new technology to reduce emissions and improve overall performance. This year’s bid compliments our previously successful bids to the Clean Vehicle Technology Fund in 2014 and the Clean Bus Technology Fund in 2013. A total of 42 Euro III buses will be fitted with enhancements by the end of 2016.

OLEV taxi bid

In June 2015, we submitted a joint bid with the other Licensing Authorities to the Energy Savings Trust to develop a feasibility study. This study would be used to bid for a share of £35million from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). The money would be used to upgrade taxis in the area to ultra-low emission vehicles, and contribute a reduction in air pollution as outlined in our recent Air Quality Action Plan.

We were unsuccessful in the feasibility bid, but decided, in conjunction with the other Leicestershire authorities, to use a consultancy - Low Emission Strategies, to deliver the study instead. We are currently asking taxi and private-hire operators to fill in a questionnaire to help us gather the required information.

Covid-19 Bus Services Support and Better Buses Grants 2020-2021

The following services were supported by £443,785 from the Local Transport Authority, Covid-19 Bus Services Support restart grant from 16 March 2021 to 31 August 2021: Services 103, 203, 303, 40, 81,83 and 162. These operated 442,641kms during this period and had pre-covid 2019-2020 patronage of 735,587. 

Get more information

To find out more about our bids and request copies of any supporting appendices, please email transport.strategy@leicester.gov.uk.

Elsewhere on the web

Other websites you may find useful: