Air quality

The council is required by law to monitor and assess the quality of the air in the borough against the national air quality objectives. These are standards that each local authority must try to comply with. The main pollutant of interest in our borough is nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and this primarily arises from the use of vehicles. Details of our monitoring and assessments can be found below.

Air quality reports

Since 2000 we have had a statutory duty for managing local air quality under the Environment Act 1995. We are required to carry out annual reviews and assessments of air quality in our borough against standards and objectives prescribed in the national air quality strategy. These standards are set to protect human health.

The reports can be viewed below.

Air Quality Annual Status Report ASR 2021(PDF) [3 Mb]

Air Quality Annual Status Report ASR 2020(PDF) [4 Mb]

Air Quality Annual Status Report ASR 2019(PDF) [3 Mb]

Air Quality Annual Status Report ASR 2018(PDF) [2 Mb]

Air Quality Annual Status Report ASR 2017(PDF) [5 Mb]

Air quality and planning guidance

Air quality may be an important consideration in determining planning applications. The aim of the document below is to provide guidance on the way in which air quality and air pollution issues will be dealt with through the planning system.

Poor air quality can have harmful impacts on health and the amenity of users of land in terms of odour, dust and nuisance. The planning system has a key role in protecting people from unacceptable risks to their health and in providing adequate protection to the amenity value of land. These considerations must be balanced against other aims of the planning system such as to secure economic regeneration and provide adequate levels of housing. The aim is to achieve sustainable development in the borough that achieves the best balance of social, economic and environmental considerations. All of these considerations can have significance for both spatial policy and individual development control decisions.

Air quality and planning guidance(PDF) [730 kb]

Environmental permitting

We help improve air quality by also controlling and reducing emissions to atmosphere from industrial processes within the borough. More information on how we help improve air quality from industrial processes can be found by visiting our Environmental permitting page.

Environmental permitting consultations

The public is invited to comment on current applications for all Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) permits (Part A2 and Part B) and draft determinations of A2 applications.

A list of all current applications and draft determinations is available to view below. The application/determination details are also held on the public register at the Council Offices. This can be viewed free of charge by appointment. Comments on applications and determinations must be made to the council in writing within the stipulated consultation period.

Any written comments received from the public will be placed on the public register unless they include a request that this is not done. In such circumstances the register will include a note that representations have been made which are not on the register because of such a request.

For enquiries about the public register please send a message to the Environmental Health team.

Current environmental permit applications and consultations

There are currently no applications or draft determination documents for environmental permits.

Bonfire information

For information on bonfires, please visit our bonfires page.

Report a smoky vehicle

Report an excessively smoky lorry or bus exhaust on the GOV.UK website or by calling 0300 123 9000 option 7 (find out about call charges to the GOV.UK).

When reporting a smoky vehicle please provide:

• the vehicle registration number
• the type of vehicle (for example, a car, bus or lorry)
• the date, time and place that you saw the vehicle, and if possible,
• the name of the vehicle operator (from the visible logo or decal of the vehicle).

Thank you for your feedback.