London businesses and business groups can now apply for funding to deploy low emission vehicle infrastructure or zero emission home delivery services.

The Business Low Emission Neighbourhoods (LENs) will be awarded up to £200,000 each to develop strategies for improved air quality.

Launched today by City Hall, the new Air Quality Business Fund aims to create five Business Low Emission Neighbourhoods (LENs) that will be awarded up to £200,000 each to develop localised strategies to improve air quality.

Examples include installing charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, cutting delivery emissions through smarter working and encouraging drivers to switch to walking, cycling or using public transport, with applications open until 15 September 2017.

The scheme launches as the London Mayor submits his formal response to the government’s Air Quality Plan consultation, describing it as a ‘deep disappointment’ and a ‘backwards step’. Instead Mr Khan urges the Government to take action now and introduce a vehicle scrappage fund and 21st Century Clean Air Act.

Mr Khan said: “The Government can no longer continue to bury its head in the sand about our toxic air. Londoners simply cannot wait. It is literally a case of life and death and I urge government to tackle this challenge immediately, because its current Air Quality Plan quite frankly is not fit for purpose.”