Confirmed: Polymer banknotes coming to UK

Around a year later in 2017 a polymer £10 note featuring Jane Austen will be issued.

Nearly 13,000 individuals gave feedback during the public consultation programme with 87% of those who responded in favour of polymer, 6% opposed and 7% neutral.

Polymer banknotes are resistant to dirt and moisture so stay cleaner for longer than paper banknotes.

Polymer banknotes last at least 2.5 times longer than paper banknotes so will take much longer to become “tatty”, improving the quality of banknotes in circulation.

Polymer banknotes are more environmentally friendly and, because they last longer are, over time, cheaper than paper banknotes.

The new polymer notes will be slightly smaller than their existing paper equivalents, but the current practice of note size increasing with note denomination will be maintained.

The Bank plans to work with Innovia Security to supply polymer for the new notes, in which case Innovia would establish a polymer production plant in Wigton, Cumbria, in 2016.

The polymer £5 note will measure 125mm in length and 65mm in height. Each subsequent denomination will measure 7mm longer and 4mm higher than the previous denomination; therefore the £10 note will measure 132mm x 69mm. These will be a little larger than the equivalent euro notes.