Local air quality management

Local authorities are responsible for:

• assessing the quality of air in their areas against air quality objectives
• taking action where their areas do not meet the objectives

This framework is called local air quality management (LAQM).

It aims to protect people’s health from the effects of air pollution ‘hotspots’ and ensure the quality of air is maintained at a safe level locally.

Actions local authorities must take under LAQM

Annual reports

Local authorities must report on the air quality objectives in their annual reports.

Local authorities are ‘in compliance’ if their local air quality monitoring data is below the air quality objectives.

Air quality management area

Local authorities must declare an air quality management area (AQMA) for any places where they are not in compliance. That is, where local air quality monitoring data is at or above an air quality objective.

The AQMA is the geographical area where they need to take action. It may be as small as a single street or as large as a whole borough.

Air quality action plan

Local authorities must produce an air quality action plan (AQAP) for any places where there is an AQMA.

This is the plan that explains how they intend to bring air pollution down below the air quality objectives.

In some areas, this includes Smoke Control Areas.

Local air quality strategies

Local authorities that are in compliance (and do not require an AQAP) are encouraged to develop an air quality strategy. This commits to preventative action on air pollution.

Air quality management areas (AQMAs)

Check the list of local authorities with AQMAs.

Check the summary AQMA data to see the numbers of AQMAs by:

• pollutant
• source

Roles of local and national monitoring networks

Local air quality monitoring for LAQM has different technical requirements to Defra’s national air quality monitoring networks.

LAQM is based on objectives set in:

• Part 4 of the Environment Act 2021
• Part 2 of the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002

It allows local authorities to focus their efforts on:

• specific pollution hotspots
• pollutants including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) particulate matter (PM10) and sulphur dioxide (SO2)

National air quality monitoring assesses general exposure to air pollutants in different environments against UK legal limits. It meets the requirements for reporting under the:

• Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010)
• Environmental Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) Regulations 2023 (in England only)

As local authorities can use air quality measurements that do not meet the requirements placed on national monitoring networks, this can lead to differences between national and local assessments.

Clean Air Zones

Separately from LAQM, a number of local authorities are under ministerial direction to develop and implement clean air plans. These can include Clean Air Zones in some local authorities.

Find your local council

Search your local council website for their published air quality reports and action plans.