Clean Air Villages 4 (CAV4) is a Defra funded project led by Cross River Partnership on behalf of  Westminster City Council and partners. Building on three previous Clean Air Villages initiatives (CAV1, CAV2 and CAV3) collaboration with 26 project partners to improve the air quality across different London ‘villages’, CAV4 aimed to reduce vehicle emissions from road transport, particularly freight. 

From April 2021 to June 2022, CRP collaborated with 26 partners to deliver innovative freight solutions that supported a clean air business recovery from COVID-19 in Greater London Authority’s (GLA) Air Quality Focus Areas (‘villages’). These villages were areas where both air pollution and population density levels are high.

Key outcomes from the Clean Air Villages 4 programme include:   

The CRP team delivered a comprehensive range of activities under Clean Air Villages 4 (CAV4). Key trials and initiatives comprised a last-mile consolidation hub trial, a river freight pilot, four cargo bike schemes, the use of 21 EV switch dongles, and 3 freight feasibility studies. Additionally, a river monitoring study and the creation of 15 case studies, toolkits, and guidance documents were completed, alongside the development of three new online tools and updates to two existing ones. CRP presented CAV4 findings at 21 external events to promote and develop air quality interventions. 

CAV4 successfully implemented 23 freight interventions across five strategic freight solutions: Consolidation, Distribution, Mode, Technology, and Policy. Working collaboratively with 26 project partners, CRP tailored interventions to suit each area while also trialling cross-cutting solutions that impacted broader focus areas. 

The project launched in April 2021, amidst ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. Although lockdown measures eased from 21 June 2021, the pandemic’s effects continued. The CRP team worked mostly remotely until January 2022, after which in-person meetings resumed when needed, balancing remote and in-person engagement to maximise effectiveness. 

For further information on Clean Air Villages 4 please contact Susannah Wilks – CRP Director. 

See the ‘Useful Downloads and Links’ section below for more information on the initiatives delivered.   

Project partners for CAV4 are: London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Hammersmith & Fulham, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Southwark, Wandsworth, Kent County Council and Westminster City Council, as well as Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) angel.london, Better Bankside, Camden Town Unlimited, Central District Alliance, The Fitzrovia Partnership, Hammersmith BID, Northbank BID, South Bank BID, Team London Bridge, Victoria BID and Victoria Westminster BID, plus Landowner Cadogan Estates and Strategic Partner the Port of London Authority (PLA).