The council is required by law to regularly review and assess the quality of the air in the borough against the national air quality objectives as set out in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000 (as amended in 2002). Where there is an exceedance of a national air quality objective we must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) setting out the measures we intend to put in place in order to achieve and maintain the objectives and the dates by which each measure will be carried out.
Further information on air quality in our area can be found in our Air Quality Reports section below.
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.
Air Quality Annual Status Report ASR 2024(PDF) [5 Mb]
Air Quality Annual Status Report ASR 2023(PDF) [3 Mb]
Air Quality Annual Status Report ASR 2022(PDF) [3 Mb]
Air quality may be an important consideration in determining planning applications.
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.
The council helps improve air quality by controlling and reducing emissions to atmosphere from industrial processes within the borough.
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.
If you have an enquiry about environmental health, send a message to the Environmental Health team
There are currently no applications or draft determination documents for environmental permits.
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:
Environmental Health team
If you have an enquiry about environmental health, send a message to the Environmental Health team
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