Local Air Quality Management Areas

• Air quality to public health standards remains generally good in the South West
• There are currently 33 Local Air Quality Management Areas, in 17 local authority areas, designated in the region where air quality objectives are not likely to be met. 
• 88% of these Local Air Quality Management Areas have been designated due to nitrogen dioxide from traffic.

Government air quality statistics show that air quality in the South West is generally good with low levels of sulphur, nitrogen dioxides and particulates in comparison to the rest of England. However, pockets of poor air quality exist in the region, especially within large urban industrial areas such as Bristol.

Since 1997 local authorities in the UK have been carrying out a review and assessment of air quality in their area. The aim of the review is to make sure that the national air quality objectives will be achieved. If a local authority finds any places where the objectives are not likely to be achieved, it must declare an Air Quality Management Area there and put together a plan to improve the air quality - a Local Air Quality Action Plan.

33 Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) have been designated in 17 local authorities in the region:

• 29 of the 33 AQMAs (88%) in the region are established due to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) as a result of traffic
• 3 AQMAs (9%) are established to monitor both nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter (Bristol, Crediton and Bradford on Avon)
• 1 AQMA is established to monitor benzene (Plymouth)

The locations of these and the reason for their establishment can be found in the spreadsheet below and are available on the Air Quality Archive's website.

• Local Air Quality Management Areas

• National Air Quality Objectives

• Air Quality Archive