Local Air Quality Management

Local authorities are required to monitor air quality and, if air quality objectives are unlikely to be met, they must produce an action plan setting out measures they intend to take

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Air Quality Management Areas and Air Quality Action Plans

The major cause of air pollution in London is road traffic, although, around Heathrow Airport, emissions from aircraft and associated site traffic are an additional problem. Other notable contributions come from

  • industrial plant and premises,
  • domestic energy production, and
  • construction activity.

Background pollutant concentrations in London and the South East are also heavily influenced by weather systems that also affect northern Europe.  Responsibility for improving air quality goes beyond local authorities.

Local authorities are required to undertake a process of Local Air Quality Management (LAQM).  Where air quality objectives are unlikely to be met, local authorities must designate Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and produce an Air Quality Action Plan setting out measures they intend to take to work towards objectives.

There are Air Quality Management Areas in all London boroughs.  All are designated for levels of either nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and PM10, or both.

The Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs provides further guidance on Local Air Quality Management.

Mayor’s Air Quality Fund

In February 2013, the Mayor of London announced a Mayor’s Air Quality Fund. The fund provides match-funding for boroughs and partners that produce innovative new schemes and projects designed to improve air quality.

Defra Consultation on Changes to Local Air Quality Management

We have set out our views on Defra's options for changes to Local Air Quality Management (LAQM)

Defra's consultation on the best way to improve Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) delivery in England ran from 12 July 2013 to 13 September 2013.

We welcomed the opportunity to respond given the fundamental nature of the options proposed in the consultation. The options range from a "business as usual" option to an option essentially to completely remove the current LAQM system.

London Councils' response made the following points:

  • London's local government continues to be concerned at the suggestion that government may pass on EU fines for the UK not meeting air quality targets to local authorities
  • There is some support for a London-specific system of Air Quality Management
  • More needs to be done to raise the health impact of poor air quality.

Defra ran a follow up consultation on more detailed regulatory changes and guidance between 19 December 2014 and 30 January 2015.