Air Quality reports and documents

Review and Assessment of Air Quality

Under the Environment Act 1995, the Council is required by the Government to review and assess air quality and to work towards meeting national air quality objectives. These are set out in the National Air Quality Strategy and contained in the table below. To view a copy of the strategy, visit the Defra website.

Summary of National Air Quality Standards and Objectives

Pollutant	Standard / Objective (UK	Averaging Period	Date₍₁₎
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)	200 μg m^_-3 not to be exceeded more than 18 times a year	1-hour mean	31 Dec 2005
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)	40 μg m^_-3	Annual mean	31 Dec 2005
Particles (PM₁₀)	50 μg m^_-3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year	24-hour mean	31 Dec 2004
Particles (PM₁₀)	40 μg m^_-3	Annual mean	31 Dec 2004
Particles (PM_2.5)	10 μg m^-3	Annual mean	2040
Particles (PM_2.5)	Target of a 35% reduction in population exposure	3-year mean	2040
Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)	266 μg m^-3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year	15-minute mean	31 Dec 2005
Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)	350 μg m^-3 not to be exceeded more than 24 times a year	1-hour mean	31 Dec 2004
Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)	125 μg m^-3mot to be exceeded more than 3 times a year	24-hour mean	31 Dec 2004

Note: (1) Date by which to be achieved by and maintained thereafter

The whole of the Royal Borough was declared as an Air Quality Management Area in 2000. Huge improvements in air quality have been achieved across Kensington and Chelsea since 2015. Despite this, like other areas of London, nitrogen dioxide remains an issue along the borough’s busier roads and particulate matter continues to affect wider areas. Consequently, reducing emissions of these pollutants as well as our exposure to poor air quality remains a great challenge locally, across London, nationally and internationally. We have produced an Air Quality Action Plan which sets out how we intend to improve air quality. Every year, we look at the progress we have made and whether we are achieving the National Air Quality Objectives. Our annual reports can be found below.