TfL says permanent changes to the Congestion Charge Zone will ensure that gains made in reducing car dependency over the last 15 years are not lost.
TfL introduced temporary changes to the Congestion Charge in 2020 as an emergency measure in the pandemic to ensure traffic was reduced so that essential journeys could continue to take place.
This included raising the charge from £11.50 to £15, and increasing the operating hours to include evenings and weekends.
Following a 10-week consultation that saw nearly 10,000 responses, TfL has confirmed permanent changes that are designed to help prevent car use from rising above pre-pandemic levels.
The main measures mean that from 21 February, there will be no charges in the evenings after 18:00, and operating hours on weekends and bank holidays will reduce to 12:00-18:00. The current charge level of £15 will be retained.
TfL says these changes will directly address the traffic challenges in central London.
Alex Williams, TfL’s director of city planning, said: “As London continues its recovery from the pandemic it is essential that we encourage people to travel sustainably.
“These changes are targeted at reducing traffic at the busiest times where we have seen a long-term trend in high levels of car travel.
“We expect to see growth in the number of people walking, cycling and using public transport in central London as a result.”
20 December 2021