Merton Council’s top-up vehicle scrappage scheme, which was the first of its kind in London designed to help residents through the cost of living crisis, will close to new applications on 1 September after having run for a year.

Anyone who is eligible for the scheme but has not yet applied should do so by that date.

Over the past year, 448 applications to the scheme have been approved, where the council has agreed in principle to pay the grant if the vehicle was scrapped, and the majority of owners have now disposed of their vehicle and received a grant.

The £1000 grant per vehicle was made available to help the least well-off areas of the borough that were not well-connected by public transport, provided the car met the Transport for London (TfL) scrappage criteria.  As a top-up scheme, Merton’s local scrappage scheme could also be applied for alongside the existing Transport for London scheme.

Merton’s most recent Air Quality Annual Status Report shows all but three of the 62 monitoring locations across the borough recorded decreases in NO₂ concentrations compared with 2022 – marking a significant improvement in air quality across Merton.

“We launched Merton’s own vehicle scrappage scheme to help people struggling with the cost of living crisis, and to help clean up the air we breathe,” said Councillor Stephen Alambritis, cabinet member for transport at Merton Council.

“The latest air quality data shows we’re succeeding in achieving that. It’s fantastic that our scheme has helped hundreds of households across Merton to swap their vehicle for a more sustainable alternative.”

“The cost of living remains the number one concern for people in Merton, and we will continue to support those most in need in any way we can.”

To make a new application by 1 September, visit: www.merton.gov.uk/scrappage.

Notes to editors:

1. The scheme will close at 23:59 on 1 September. New applications will no longer be accepted from this point, however applications already in progress are unaffected.