Air Quality Action Plan 2022-2027
Improving air quality remains a key priority for Kensington and Chelsea Council. In 2021, it was incorporated into a new Council Green Plan, alongside other environmental goals to become carbon neutral, protect and enhance biodiversity, tackle fuel poverty and minimise waste. All of which have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of those who live and work in, visit or travel through our Borough.
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.
However, we want the air within Kensington and Chelsea to be healthy for all to breathe. This means concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) that meet the National Air Quality Objectives (NAQOs) and World Health Organisation guideline values. In 2022, the Council adopted a new Air Quality Action Plan, that sets out how we will aim to do this.
We have committed to:
- To work with our whole community for a healthy, clean and sustainable borough, as set out in our Council Plan.
- To narrow the gap to reduce health inequalities in areas affected by poor air quality and deprivation.
- To improve awareness and understanding of the impact of poor ambient and indoor air quality on health and how exposure can be reduced while at home or about in the borough.
- To reduce emissions from existing buildings (including schools and hospitals) as well as those from demolition, construction, and the operation of developments new and old to reduce air pollution.
- To encourage and enable active travel, such as walking and cycling, in place of private car usage.
- To target pollution sources that the Council has control over, while lobbying and working with other partners to reduce sources that we do not have control over both within and outside the borough.
Previous Air Quality Action Plans
2016-2021
2009-2014
2003-2008
Further Information
If you would like further information about air quality in the borough, please visit our Air quality monitoring page.
How to engage
We are looking for active participation from residents, schools and businesses and this web page is the focal point for the latest information on progress.
You can also contact us as follows at [email protected].