Clean air
What the government is doing
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has the key role in controlling and managing air quality across the UK, through various strategies and regulatory regimes. For more information on air quality and what's an air pollution read the policy paper on DEFRA's website.
Clean Air Basingstoke Campaign
All of us living and working in Basingstoke and Deane have a responsibility for reducing pollution in the air in our borough. To reduce your own contribution to pollution there are a number of things you can do.
| Drive your car less |
|---|
| Vehicles are the main source of air pollution. Use public transport where available, this will reduce the number of private vehicles in operation reducing pollutant concentrations through the number of vehicles and reducing congestion.
By taking public transport to work just one day every week, you can reduce your pollution contribution by a massive 20%! Find out more information on My Journey Hampshire website or Hampshire County Council's website. |
| Car sharing or getting lift reduces the number of vehicles on the road and at the same time the amount of emissions being released is less.
Find out more information on LiftShare website. More useful information can be found on Hampshire County Council’s Liftshare and car clubs webpage. |
| Drive your car better |
| When you need to use your car, think about how you’re driving. Check our Engine idling webpage for more information. |
| You could also consider switching to an electric vehicle. Alternative fuel run vehicles such as fully electric, hybrid fuel and more fuel-efficient cars are available, and all have different levels benefits by reducing the amount of emissions being released.
Check out our Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy webpage. For more information on electric car grants visit Low-emission vehicles eligible for a plug-in grant page. If you are carrying out building works, consider future-proofing your home by installing an electric vehicle charge point. A fast (7kW) charger is recommended and there are electric vehicle chargepoint grant available to assist with the cost. |
| Choose to walk short journeys instead of driving.Need to pick something up from local the local shop? Instead of taking the car, take a short walk. It’s better for your fitness and for the air in your community. |
| Choosing to walk or cycle, the number of vehicles is reduced and there is the added benefit of keeping fit and healthy.
More information can be found on our webpages on cycling routes, how cycling can improve your health and fitness or cycle parking provisions in Basingstoke. You could also check with your employer if they have a Cycle2Work scheme or Bike 2 Work Scheme. |
| Avoid lighting bonfires, especially when pollution levels are high or while the weather is still and cold. Only burn dry material and never burn household waste, especially plastic, rubber, foam or paint. Levels of pollution can be quite high on bonfire night and other events/festivals with bonfires, and sensitive people, including people with respiratory conditions, may notice some effects.
More information can be found on our Pollution webpage or GOV.UK website. |
| Wood-burning stoves are increasing in popularity, but burning wood produces a lot of air pollutants. To minimise your contribution to air pollution, buy a Defra approved stove, burn only well-seasoned wood. If buying wood for immediate use ensure that it displays the Woodsure Ready to Burn logo.
Find out more information on our Domestic biomass and solid fuel heating appliances webpage. |
| Myth | Busted |
|---|---|
| Idling is good for your engine | Idling can actually damage your vehicle and can lead to fuel residue build-up. |
| Starting and stopping my engine is more harmful that just letting it run | Actually, turning off an engine and then restarting after a minute will cause less pollution. |
| Idling doesn’t waste much fuel | Idling waste significant amount of fuel - an hour can waste half a gallon or more! |
| Letting a car idle on a cold day is a good way to warm it up' with the Busted text | The best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it. |
| If it is cold outside I need to keep my engine running for it to stay warm | Your engine will stay warm for up to an hour after switching it off. |
| I'll be exposed to less air pollution if I stay in my car, rather than cycling or walking | Those who travel by car can experience five times higher pollution levels than those who cycle, and three and a half times more than those walking according to an experiment by academics and campaigners. |
Air quality in the borough
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.
Currently there are no areas of poor air quality in Basingstoke and Deane.
We constantly monitor levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at various locations across the borough. These locations change regularly, and currently includes Basingstoke Town Centre, Bramley, Chineham and Beggarwood (A30).
We use these results to carry out annual reviews and assessments against standards and objectives that are set out nationally. These standards have been put in place to protect people’s health and the environment.
Find out what the air quality is like today by visiting the UK Air DEFRA website.
More information on air quality in Hampshire can be found on My Journey Hampshire webpage.
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.
Air Quality Annual Status Report ASR 2025
Air Quality Annual Status Report ASR 2024
Air Quality Annual Status Report ASR 2023
Air quality and planning guidance
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 Planning Guidance 2017 is currently under review and it being carried out by an IAQM Working Group.
Environmental permitting
The council helps improve air quality by controlling and reducing emissions to atmosphere from industrial processes within the borough.
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.
If you have an enquiry about environmental health, send a message to the Environmental Health team
Environmental permit applications and draft determination documents for environmental permits and associated supporting documentation
There are currently no applications or draft determination documents for environmental permits.
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