LAQM & Previous Reports

The Environment Act 1995 sets out a framework for Local Air Quality Management (LAQM). This requires every local authority to systematically review the air quality within their boundaries against a set of air quality objectives.

LAQM sets out a reporting structure in the form of review and assessment, where councils must assess the likelihood of achieving the air quality objectives for seven key pollutants; nitrogen dioxide, benzene, 1.3 butadiene, particulate matter (PM₁₀), sulphur dioxide, lead and carbon monoxide.

The review and assessment process is a staged investigation into pollutant levels with progressively more in-depth study depending on the likelihood of exceeding the specified objective for any given pollutant.

The first round of review and assessment began in 1998 with each round taking around three years to complete. The first stage is to undertake an updating and screening assessment (USA) to identify any changes since the previous round which may lead to the exceedence of the air quality objectives (AQOs)

If the USA highlights that an exceedance is likely the authority must then carry out a detailed assessment of the pollutants and locations of concern. The aim of the detailed assessment is to determine, with reasonable certainty, the magnitude and extent of any likely exceedences of the AQOs. If the USA indicates that all AQOs will be met then the local authority simply proceeds to a progress report.

Where an AQO is unlikely to be met the local authority must designate an air quality management area (AQMA) and draw up an air quality action plan setting out measures to be introduced in pursuit of the air quality objectives. Following declaration of an AQMA, a further assessment needs to be carried out to confirm that the AQMA declaration is justified, that the appropriate area has been declared, to ascertain the sources contributing to the exceedence and to calculate the magnitude of reduction in emissions required to achieve the objective. This information can be used to inform an Air Quality Action Plan, which will identify measures to improve local air quality.

Over 220 local authorities have declared AQMAs, mainly for exceedences of the annual average objective for nitrogen dioxide and also, to a lesser degree, the short term objective for PM₁₀. Road transport sources are the main cause of AQMA declarations.

Click on the links below for more information on the pollutants covered, the air quality management area and to download any previous review and assessment reports.